A raw, previously undisclosed exchange reveals a deep rift between Senator John Fetterman and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Fetterman, then lieutenant governor, unleashed a furious, expletive-laden tirade against Shapiro during a Zoom hearing, a moment now detailed in his new memoir.
The outburst stemmed from a disagreement over the commutation of sentences for Lee and Dennis Horton, convicted of second-degree murder in a 1993 robbery. Shapiro delivered a lengthy justification for his vote against their release, a speech Fetterman deemed “very long-winded and unnecessary,” igniting his anger.
Fetterman’s frustration boiled over, culminating in the private threat to challenge Shapiro in a gubernatorial primary. He presented Shapiro with a stark choice: a collaborative path or a contentious election battle, subtly favoring his own Senate aspirations.
Following the hearing, Shapiro’s team attempted damage control, requesting Fetterman to retract his statements and deny the existence of the private meeting. Fetterman refused, standing firm in his convictions and unwilling to compromise his principles.
Ultimately, the Board of Pardons did vote to commute the Hortons’ sentences in December 2020. Fetterman later extended a powerful gesture of support by inviting Dennis Horton as his guest to the 2023 State of the Union address.
Despite this, the relationship with Shapiro remained fractured. Fetterman expressed a wistful acknowledgement of their shared past, recalling a time when both were ambitious newcomers, but conceded they no longer speak.
The core of the dispute lay in differing philosophies regarding parole and pardons. Fetterman passionately believed in the rehabilitation of those he supported, willing to risk his political standing on their potential for positive contribution to society.
He perceived Shapiro as overly cautious, suggesting political ambition, rather than genuine concern for public safety, drove his decisions. At one particularly tense meeting, Shapiro opposed parole in twelve out of fifteen cases, prompting Fetterman to violently break his reading glasses in frustration.
Fetterman believed Shapiro feared the potential for violence by released individuals, prioritizing political repercussions over individual cases. This fundamental disagreement exposed a widening chasm in their approaches to justice and governance.
This isn’t the first instance of Fetterman challenging the status quo. Since arriving in Washington, he has frequently clashed with members of his own party, notably regarding collaboration with the previous administration and his unwavering support for Israel.
