Fetterman Shares Tensions with Shapiro in New Memoir

In a recent revelation from his memoir, John Fetterman opened up about escalating tensions with Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro. During a 2020 Zoom hearing, Fetterman, then the lieutenant governor, inadvertently let slip an expletive, calling Shapiro an “f-ing a-hole.” This outburst followed Shapiro’s lengthy explanation of his decision to vote against commuting the sentences of brothers Lee and Dennis Horton, who were serving time for second-degree murder stemming from a robbery in 1993.

Both Fetterman and Shapiro attended a meeting of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons where Shapiro expressed his concerns regarding missing trial records for the Horton brothers. Frustrated by what he saw as Shapiro’s stubbornness, Fetterman threatened to run for governor in 2022, indicating he would force the then-state representative into a contentious primary battle.

Fetterman reflected on their interactions in his book, Unfettered, stating, “I wasn’t interested in friction; I was only interested in what I thought was justice.” He proposed two potential political paths: where he would run for Senate, which he ultimately chose, or where Shapiro would run for governor.

In a twist, after this exchange, a member of Shapiro’s staff reached out to Fetterman, urging him to retract his comments and deny rumors of private meetings about the case. This suggestion did not sit well with Fetterman. The Board of Pardons decided to commute the Horton brothers’ sentences in December 2020, and later, Fetterman invited Dennis Horton to attend the State of the Union address in 2023. However, the relationship between Fetterman and Shapiro has since deteriorated, with Fetterman admitting they no longer communicate.

Despite the rift, Fetterman expressed good wishes for Shapiro, acknowledging his contributions to the state and recognizing his potential at a national level. He reminisced about a time before their rivalry and reflected on Shapiro’s cautious approach to clemency matters—wondering if political ambition overshadowed genuine concern for justice.

Fetterman recalled a particularly tense meeting where he became so frustrated with Shapiro’s voting record, denying parole for 12 out of 15 cases, that he broke his reading glasses. Fetterman suggested Shapiro’s decisions were rooted less in the specifics of each case and more in fear of future violence from released inmates.

As the 2024 campaign approached, Fetterman quietly shared his reservations about Shapiro with Kamala Harris’s team while they explored potential vice-presidential candidates. Harris later expressed her own concerns in her memoir, noting apprehensions about Shapiro’s satisfaction with being a second-in-command and how it could affect their collaboration.

Shapiro remains one of the country’s most popular governors, with strong re-election prospects for next year and speculation surrounding a potential presidential run in 2028. A spokesperson for Shapiro did not provide a comment in response to these revelations.

Unfettered is available at various retailers.