Fetterman blasts Dems for not expelling crooked senator, praises GOP for booting Santos

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) contrasted the “principled stand” by Republicans in booting former Rep. George Santos to his own party’s failure to show a New Jersey senator the door.

The Pennsylvania Democrat acknowledged the sacrifice the Republican Party made in its majority by expelling Santos, tipping his hat to GOP lawmakers who voted to oust the New York congressman from the House last year. But Fetterman was disturbed by Democrats seeming to refuse to hold Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) accountable.

In an interview with Fox News, Fetterman minced no words when speaking of the indicted Democrat senator, calling him a “real sleazeball.”

“At this point, it’s almost moot. His trial is in less than two months from now and that’s going to address that. I can’t imagine how with the kinds of evidence. I also remind everybody to remember that this is his second trip to the prom. You know, he barely just got out from that,” Fetterman told Fox News’ Chad Pergram.

“And now he’s been credibly accused of being a foreign agent for three nations. In fact, two of them are critical and negotiation partners in the Gaza situation with Hamas. And how is this individual allowed to attend classified briefings on that? It’s astonishing,” he continued.

“And it’s been frustrating where someone’s more concerned that I could wear a hoodie,” Fetterman added, referring to the criticism he has been under for his too-casual attire in the Senate and his trademark hoodie. “That’s why this seems to be more urgent. Making sure that the Senate reputation isn’t damaged.”

“Why do you think that members have kind of not called for him to be expelled or gone as far as you?” Pergram asked. “You’ve been the most outspoken person when it comes to Menendez.”

“I don’t know,” the senator replied.

“But what I can say is that Santos was expelled and Republicans did the right thing on that. That actually cost them a seat. So I thought that was a principled stand,” he noted.

Menendez served as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before being indicted. He has pushed back on charges against him and his wife while his Democrat colleagues appear to stand by in Congress. After new obstruction allegations were leveled at Menendez and his wife, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) expressed that he was “disappointed” in the lawmaker, but did not call for his resignation.

“The Senate has certain standards that we must live up to, and I’m very disappointed that Sen. Menendez has not lived up to those standards,” Schumer said at a press conference.

Frieda Powers

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