CNN Panel Goes Off the Rails Over Jennings’ Controversial Good Guy-Bad Guy Chart [WATCH]

A CNN panel heatedly debated the recent acquittal of Marine veteran Daniel Penny on Monday night, with Republican strategist Scott Jennings accusing “the left” of failing to distinguish between heroes and villains.

Penny, who was charged in the death of Jordan Neely, was found not guilty by a Manhattan jury on criminally negligent homicide charges after a judge dismissed a manslaughter charge against him.

Penny, 26, was riding the New York City subway in May 2023 when he restrained Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man reportedly acting erratically and intimidating passengers.

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The incident ignited a national debate on public safety, mental health, and race.

Jennings didn’t mince words during the segment, saying, “If you’re on the American left tonight, here’s my chart: The good guys today—Daniel Penny. The bad guys—Luigi Mangione.”

Jennings referred to Mangione, who was arrested Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a five-day manhunt.

Mangione is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4.

Jennings alleged that some left-wing figures praised Mangione’s actions while vilifying Penny.

CNN guest host Audie Cornish interrupted Jennings, challenging his statement and asking, “What’s the chart for victims?”

Jennings reiterated his criticism, saying, “People on the left can’t seem to tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys.”

Cornish shifted the focus to Republican Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona, who proposed awarding Penny a Congressional Gold Medal for his actions.

When asked if he supported the idea, Jennings responded, “I think he ought to get a medal. I think you ought to build a statue to this guy in New York City.”

The discussion took a contentious turn when panelist Solomon Jones brought up race, claiming it played a significant role in the case.

“I’m going to say the dreaded r-word. Race plays a role in this,” Jones stated, arguing that racial disparities in sentencing are evident in the justice system.

Jennings countered by bringing up another case, that of Jordan Williams, a black man who fatally stabbed an ex-convict in a New York City subway altercation in June 2023.

Jennings noted that a grand jury had dismissed charges against Williams in a case with striking similarities to Penny’s. “Same situation: African American gets on a subway, ends up killing a guy. Grand jury tosses it out at the exact same time as the Penny case,” Jennings said.

Jones maintained his stance, asserting, “That is what happens in our criminal justice system,” prompting further disagreement among panelists.

The Penny verdict has drawn sharp reactions from across the political spectrum.

Republican lawmakers like Crane have praised Penny’s actions as heroic, with Crane’s proposal to award him a Congressional Gold Medal gaining attention.

Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter leaders and other activists have condemned the verdict, calling it a miscarriage of justice.

Penny’s defense argued throughout the trial that his actions were intended to protect fellow subway passengers, while critics claimed the case was emblematic of systemic racial inequities in the legal system.

As the debate over the Penny case continues, it underscores broader national tensions surrounding public safety, race, and the role of self-defense in volatile situations.

The case has not only reignited discussions about mental health and homelessness but also revealed deep divisions in how Americans interpret justice.

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