A top Democrat worked hard to put dangerous killers back on the streets.
And he’s perfectly happy with what he’s done.
You won’t believe the murderers a top Democrat is proud to have freed from prison.
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) who is running for Senate against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz said that he is “proud to run” on his record of freeing convicted murderers from prison.
Fetterman has helped release at least 10 convicts serving life sentences for first-degree murder.
In an interview with WGAL News 8’s Barbara Barr, Fetterman was asked if he regretted his voting record on the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons.
“Do you feel you’ve been maybe too sympathetic toward folks who committed crimes and are in prison – giving them a second chance – and not as empathetic to victims and their families?” Barr asked.
“I’m the only candidate in this race that actually has a record of fighting against crime. As mayor of my community (Braddock), with a community that had a very significant gun violence issue, and that’s the reason why I ran for mayor in the first place. And I was successful to partner with the police, to fund the police and to plan one that is also working with the community. And we were successful.” Fetterman said, avoiding the question.
“Would you do any of those votes differently?” Barr asked again pressing the issue.
“Again, I’m proud to run on my record on actually fighting gun violence and crime during my time as mayor.” Fetterman responded.
Since Fetterman started heading the five-person Board of Pardons in January 2019, recommendations for commutations of life sentences have gone up dramatically. From March 2019 through April 2022, the board sent at least 46 commutation recommendations to Gov. Tom Wolf (D).
“That’s compared with just six in Wolf’s first term, none under former Republican Gov. Tom Corbett’s one term, and only five during former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell’s eight years in office,” as the Inquirer reported in May.
Fetterman would often be the board member to vote in favor of releasing particularly heinous offenders back on the street.
He was the only vote trying to free Alexis Rodriguez who was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1989 killing of Sean Daily, a high school junior and the son of a Philadelphia police officer. Rodriguez, then 18, and five others were accused of beating Daily with a baseball bat before fatally shooting him in the back.
Fetterman also wanted to commute the life sentence of 44-year-old James Strapple who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2000 after he admitted to procuring a gun and luring victim Glenn Ford to a secluded area where an accomplice then shot Ford in what police called an “execution-style killing.”
The Democratic candidate also wanted Wayne Covington, who was sentenced to life in prison after he shot and killed an 18-year-old for money to buy heroin, to walk free.
These are the people Fetterman wanted back on the streets and he’s proud of that record.
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