Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to John Fetterman
Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to John Fetterman.
John Fetterman is an American politician currently serving as the senior United States senator from Pennsylvania since 2023. As a member of the Democratic Party, Fetterman previously served as the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, from 2006 to 2019. He then served as the 34th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 2019 until assuming his senatorial role in 2023. His political career has been marked by his focus on issues relevant to working-class communities.
2004: Cox Arrest Record Released
In 2004, John Fetterman, then Mayor of Braddock, released a non-public arrest record of Jayme Cox.
2008: Tax Lien Lawsuit
In 2008, Allegheny County sued John Fetterman and his nonprofit Braddock Redux for unpaid taxes, resulting in a $25,000 tax lien.
2009: Mayoral Primary Win
In 2009, John Fetterman defeated Jayme Cox in the Democratic primary for mayor despite criticism for releasing Cox's arrest records.
2009: Town Council Conflict
In 2009, John Fetterman had conflicts with the Braddock town council, leading to attempts to remove him from a meeting and cite him for an occupancy permit violation.
November 2010: Arrested at Protest
In November 2010, John Fetterman was arrested and immediately released for protesting the closure of Braddock Hospital.
January 2013: Shotgun Incident
In January 2013, John Fetterman detained an unarmed jogger with a shotgun in North Braddock, leading to controversy.
2013: Began Marrying LGBT Couples
Starting in 2013, John Fetterman began defying a 1996 Pennsylvania law that banned same-sex marriage and started marrying LGBT couples.
January 2019: Began Term
Starting in January 2019, John Fetterman's official schedule as lieutenant governor was often blank, and he frequently missed Senate sessions.
November 2020: Called Trump "Internet Troll"
In November 2020, John Fetterman said Donald Trump was "no different than any other random internet troll" in response to election fraud claims.
2020: Limited Attendance
In 2020, John Fetterman only attended half of the Senate's sessions as lieutenant governor.
2020: Response to Voter Fraud Allegations
In 2020, amidst claims of voter fraud in Pennsylvania, John Fetterman responded by sarcastically certifying that three cases of voter fraud were discovered, involving individuals casting ballots on behalf of dead relatives or twice, all for Trump. He lampooned the situation, drawing nationwide publicity.
2021: Limited Attendance
In 2021, John Fetterman only attended a third of the Senate's sessions as lieutenant governor.
May 2022: Absenteeism
From his inauguration in January 2019 until May 2022, John Fetterman's official schedule was blank for one-third of workdays.
November 5, 2024: Disrupted Jon Stewart's Live Election Special
On November 5, 2024, John Fetterman disrupted Jon Stewart's live election special on The Daily Show by canceling an interview 30 seconds before it was scheduled to air.
2024: Expressed Willingness to Work with Trump
In 2024, after Donald Trump won the presidential election, John Fetterman expressed a willingness to work with Republicans and even visited Trump's Mar-a-Lago complex.
2025: Cozying up to Trump
By early 2025, John Fetterman had made a number of moves some liberals criticized as cozying up to Trump.
