The Manhattan District Attorney's office has been contacting journalists reporting on the Daniel Penny case to try to influence coverage of the proceedings. The 26-year-old Marine veteran is accused of manslaughter and negligent homicide following the May 2023 death of 30-year-old Michael Jackson impersonator Jordan Neely.

A judge agreed to dismiss the manslaughter charge in the trial of Daniel Penny, the former Marine accused of killing subway performer Jordan Neely with a chokehold in May 2023, after jurors twice sent notes saying they could not come to a unanimous verdict. That still leaves criminally negligent homicide on the table.