Well, it seems justice has prevailed—or at least dodged the usual political spin. Daniel Penny, the Marine who stepped in during a violent subway altercation, has been found not guilty. But the story doesn’t end there. Instead of celebrating a fair verdict, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg now finds himself in the crosshairs. Critics are calling for his resignation, and frankly, who can blame them?

Bragg, for those lucky enough to avoid New York’s justice circus, is the prosecutor who thought it was a good idea to make Penny the face of criminal accountability. Let’s rewind for context. Penny intervened in a chaotic subway situation involving Jordan Neely, a man with a long history of mental health issues and violence. Neely was reportedly threatening passengers, and Penny, acting in defense of others, restrained him in what turned into a tragic outcome. Neely died, and Bragg saw an opportunity—not for justice, but for political theater.

From the outset, Bragg treated the case like an audition for the national stage. His office rushed to charge Penny with manslaughter, framing it as a moral imperative. But the evidence told a different story: witnesses corroborated Penny’s account of events, and public sentiment largely supported his actions. Penny wasn’t a vigilante; he was a good Samaritan caught in a tragic situation. Yet, Bragg pushed forward, eager to paint Penny as a symbol of unchecked privilege or systemic injustice, depending on the day.

Now that a jury has cleared Penny, the backlash against Bragg is louder than ever. Republican lawmakers and everyday New Yorkers are demanding that he “resign in shame,” accusing him of politicizing his role and undermining trust in the justice system. And they’re not wrong. Bragg’s tenure as DA has been marked by a soft-on-crime approach that prioritizes ideology over public safety. From downgrading felony charges to letting repeat offenders roam free, his policies have made New York City more dangerous, not less.

But what’s most infuriating about the Penny case is how it highlights Bragg’s double standard. This is the same DA who seems uninterested in prosecuting actual criminals—those who loot, assault, or terrorize neighborhoods. Yet, when a citizen steps up to protect others in a moment of crisis, Bragg springs into action. It’s not just hypocritical; it’s dangerous. What message does this send to law-abiding citizens? That they’re better off looking the other way than risking legal jeopardy by doing the right thing?

Of course, Bragg’s defenders are spinning the verdict as proof that “the system works.” But let’s not forget how much damage was done along the way. Penny’s life was upended, his reputation dragged through the mud, and his finances drained by a legal battle he never should have faced. All because Bragg wanted a headline. The verdict doesn’t erase the harm; it merely exposes the farce.

And let’s not ignore the broader implications. Cases like this have a chilling effect on public safety. When citizens fear legal repercussions for intervening in dangerous situations, they’re less likely to act. That’s a win for criminals and chaos, but a loss for everyone else. Bragg’s handling of the Penny case wasn’t just a disservice to one man—it was a disservice to the entire community.

The calls for Bragg’s resignation aren’t just about Daniel Penny; they’re about holding a prosecutor accountable for prioritizing politics over public service. New Yorkers are tired of a DA who plays favorites, who bends the law to fit a narrative, and who treats ordinary citizens as pawns in his ideological games. They deserve better. We all do.

So, what’s next for Alvin Bragg? He could dig in his heels, dismiss the criticism, and continue down the same path. Or he could take a hard look at the damage he’s done and step aside. Resigning in shame might sound dramatic, but for a DA whose policies have made a mockery of justice, it feels like the bare minimum. The people of New York deserve justice that’s blind—not justice that’s politically convenient. If Bragg can’t deliver that, then he has no business being DA. It’s as simple as that.