Partners at Andreessen Horowitz, the Blue-Chip Risk capital company in Silicon Valley, defended their decision to hire Daniel Penny, a marine veteran acquitted on accusation of criminal negligent murder last year, according to an internal memo viewed by the New York times.
Andreessen Horowitz, said the memo, is most likely the largest investor of the public safety and defense and durf capital in the country, and 'therefore we spend a lot of time with active-duty soldiers, veterans, chiefs of police, Sheriffs; These relationships are crucial for the success of our companies. “
Mr. Penny's “Military Veteran experience can be useful to keep building these relationships, and many of our founders of public safety and defense have shared a similar sentiment,” said the memo, sent by Jen Kha, that of that of The company head of investor relationships.
The company told employees on Tuesday morning that the Mr. Penny had hired. David Ulevitch, an investment partner, said in a separate memo that he had been introduced to Mr Penny last year and that the veteran had “acted courage in a tough situation.”
Mr. Uvitch asked Mr Penny to become a member of the American dynamic investment team of the company, which focuses on the space travel, defense and production sectors.
Mr Uvitch added that he had “investigated and interviews” with Mr Penny and believed that Mr Penny had given himself “honorable and appropriate the chaotic and dangerous circumstances” in the metro, the memo said.
Shortly after the recruitment became public, partners started to receive messages from outsiders and limited partners who expressed concern, said two people who are familiar with the messages about the condition of anonymity.
Some people asked why Mr Penny was hired without investment experience, while others expressed their concern that his highly politicized process would draw unnecessary attention to the company.
A spokesperson for Andreessen Horowitz did not immediately respond to a request for comments. A lawyer who represented Mr Penny during the trial refused to comment on Wednesday.
Partners of the company, including the co-founder Marc Andreessen, supported President Trump in last year's elections. Some are also attracted to right -wing figures, including Mr. Penny, who was embraced by conservatives during his trial.
A former architecture student, Mr. Penny was charged in 2023 by the office of the public prosecutor in Manhattan with manslaughter and criminal negligent murder after a video of him who, another passenger, Jordan Neely, on the metro that was spread online, was deadly choked.
Mr Neely, 30, was aboard a northern F train at the Second Avenue station and immediately started screaming to passengers, said witnesses, wanted to return to prison and not to give him if he lived or died. Mr. Penny approached him from behind, put him in a choke hold and took him on the floor.
A four -minute video recorded by a bystander quickly spread online and showed the men on the floor of the metro train. Mr Neely, who had struggled with his mental health for years, died.
In December, jury members were stuck from the most serious indictment with which Penny was confronted with manslaughter, and the judge rejected it. Jury members then considered criminal negligent murder and acquitted Mr. Penny.
For some, the matter embodied their concern about homelessness, mental disorders and crime in New York City. Others saw Mr. Neely as someone who needed help in a city that makes his most vulnerable slide through the cracks.
The Andreessen Horowitz-Memo recognized strong opinions about Mr Penny, but added that “we believe that there is a long-term value when expanding our network in collaboration with Daniel and are delighted to have him as part of our team.”
