Pennsylvania's highest-ranking Democrats, Sen. John Fetterman and former Gov. Josh Shapiro, have been at odds for years, with their relationship never recovering from a heated 2020 Zoom hearing. In his new memoir "Unfettered," Fetterman reveals the reason behind their long-standing feud.
According to Fetterman, the tension between them began when he delivered a speech during a meeting of Pennsylvania's Board of Pardons in support of commuting the sentences of Lee and Dennis Horton, two brothers convicted of second-degree murder. Shapiro had expressed concern about missing transcripts from the siblings' original trial and voted against commuting their sentences.
Fetterman was outraged by Shapiro's decision, feeling that it was influenced by his own political ambitions rather than a genuine desire to do justice. The lieutenant governor took to social media to express his frustration, eventually blurting "f—ing a—hole" into a hot mic during the heated hearing.
The outburst marked a turning point in their relationship. Fetterman threatened to run for governor in 2022 and pull Shapiro into a bruising primary if he didn't back down on the issue. Shapiro's team reached out to Fetterman, asking him to retract his statements and deny the rumors about the private meeting taking place.
Fetterman refused, stating that he had no interest in friction but only wanted to see justice served. The board ultimately voted to commute the Horton brothers' sentences, with Fetterman inviting Dennis Horton to be his guest at the 2023 State of the Union address.
Despite this gesture, their relationship never recovered. In "Unfettered," Fetterman writes that Shapiro is a credit to the state and may one day be a credit to the country, but he also expresses regret over the years they've spent apart.
Their feud is rooted in Shapiro's cautious approach to pardoning, which often put him at odds with Fetterman's more liberal stance. At times, it seemed like Shapiro was prioritizing politics over principle, and that's what drove Fetterman to speak out.
The former lieutenant governor recalls one meeting where Shapiro voted against parole in 12 of 15 cases, causing him to break his reading glasses in frustration. This behavior, Fetterman believes, was driven by a fear that someone whose sentence he'd commuted would go on to commit terrible violence on the outside.
Fetterman's concerns about Shapiro were shared by former Vice President Kamala Harris' team during her 2024 campaign, who had "had a nagging concern that" Shapiro "would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership."
Shapiro is heavily favored to win re-election next year and has been floated as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
According to Fetterman, the tension between them began when he delivered a speech during a meeting of Pennsylvania's Board of Pardons in support of commuting the sentences of Lee and Dennis Horton, two brothers convicted of second-degree murder. Shapiro had expressed concern about missing transcripts from the siblings' original trial and voted against commuting their sentences.
Fetterman was outraged by Shapiro's decision, feeling that it was influenced by his own political ambitions rather than a genuine desire to do justice. The lieutenant governor took to social media to express his frustration, eventually blurting "f—ing a—hole" into a hot mic during the heated hearing.
The outburst marked a turning point in their relationship. Fetterman threatened to run for governor in 2022 and pull Shapiro into a bruising primary if he didn't back down on the issue. Shapiro's team reached out to Fetterman, asking him to retract his statements and deny the rumors about the private meeting taking place.
Fetterman refused, stating that he had no interest in friction but only wanted to see justice served. The board ultimately voted to commute the Horton brothers' sentences, with Fetterman inviting Dennis Horton to be his guest at the 2023 State of the Union address.
Despite this gesture, their relationship never recovered. In "Unfettered," Fetterman writes that Shapiro is a credit to the state and may one day be a credit to the country, but he also expresses regret over the years they've spent apart.
Their feud is rooted in Shapiro's cautious approach to pardoning, which often put him at odds with Fetterman's more liberal stance. At times, it seemed like Shapiro was prioritizing politics over principle, and that's what drove Fetterman to speak out.
The former lieutenant governor recalls one meeting where Shapiro voted against parole in 12 of 15 cases, causing him to break his reading glasses in frustration. This behavior, Fetterman believes, was driven by a fear that someone whose sentence he'd commuted would go on to commit terrible violence on the outside.
Fetterman's concerns about Shapiro were shared by former Vice President Kamala Harris' team during her 2024 campaign, who had "had a nagging concern that" Shapiro "would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership."
Shapiro is heavily favored to win re-election next year and has been floated as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
... so thats whats happn with john fetterman & josh shapiro, 2 dems in pennsylvania who r always goin at each other 
. apparently they got into a major beef back in 2020 over pardoning these 2 bros who were convicted of murder 
. Fettermans all like "justice for these guys!" while Shapiro's all "hold up, let's think this thru" 
.
. after that, its game over between them... they never recover from that 
. shapiro's like a total cautious dude when it comes to pardoning, which Fettermann thinks is kinda lame 
.
... idk man, i guess u gotta respect his ambition 
. Their differences are valid, but Fetterman seems really passionate about it, maybe Shapiro was just being cautious? 
. Its not fair to the voters that they never really resolved their issues 
. And with Shapiro looking strong for re-election next year, I hope Fetterman speaks up again soon or at least leaves a door open for reconciliation 
. It's not surprising that their relationship never recovered after the heated hearing – it's just a big ol' mess of emotions and politics 
.
, and I'm surprised Fetterman didn't take the bait. He stuck to his guns (pun intended) and refused to back down 
. I think that's admirable in a way – standing up for what you believe, even if it means ruffling some feathers.
. It sounds like they were watching Shapiro from the sidelines and worried about his potential ambition 
.
the whole thing between Fetterman & Shapiro feels like a classic case of differing opinions, you know? 
one guy's all about giving people second chances, while the other's more cautious, weighing the pros and cons... it's not uncommon for ppl to disagree on things, but when it comes down to it, can't we just find common ground & work together towards a common goal? 
but honestly can we talk about the drama during that 2020 Zoom hearing? 
I need to know what happened with Lee and Dennis Horton's original trial 
anyway, it's wild how Fetterman's memoir revealed the root of their beef 
I'm not surprised by the tension between Fetterman and Shapiro, they've both had strong opinions for years. It's like they're two sides of the same coin 
. One's more liberal and the other's more cautious, but at the end of the day, they both want what's best for PA 
. Fetterman's willingness to put his foot down on justice is admirable, and Shapiro's experience as governor will surely benefit him in the future 
i mean, they're literally so good its like a taste explosion in your mouth, but what's up with how expensive they are now? 
. I'm just here for the insight into their complex relationship and the politics behind it 
.
Fetterman's memoir is like a puzzle piece that finally reveals the real reason behind their long-standing feud 
Shapiro's cautious approach to pardoning was a major point of contention between them 
I'm not surprised it still affects their relationship today 
But on the flip side, Fetterman's willingness to speak out and fight for justice is what makes him a true leader 
In hindsight, maybe Shapiro didn't need to be so cautious 
and I wonder how it affected his public image 
This feud between Fetterman and Shapiro could've been averted if they took a different approach, like working together instead of against each other. The stakes are high for Shapiro in his re-election bid, but will he be able to overcome their past differences? Only time will tell! 
. and I'm kinda curious, how does Shapiro feel about all this now? 
I can imagine how hurtful and frustrating it must've been for Sen. Fetterman to feel like Shapiro was prioritizing politics over principle, especially when it came to something as important as pardoning. 