John Fetterman Gets Unexpected Praise From Republicans

Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, is getting some unexpected praise from Republicans on Friday after calling for Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey to be expelled.

In an unsealed indictment in September, Menendez and his wife were both accused by federal prosecutors of agreeing to and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of bribes. The bribes allegedly included gold, luxury vehicles, cash and payments toward a home mortgage by businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes—in exchange for allegedly advancing their interests, and to the benefit of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

In a previous statement obtained by Newsweek in September, Menendez responded to the indictment saying in part: "Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists...The excesses of these prosecutors is apparent. They have misrepresented the normal work of a Congressional office. On top of that, not content with making false claims against me, they have attacked my wife for the longstanding friendships she had before she and I even met."

While speaking on The View on Friday, Fetterman was asked about the expulsion of Republican Congressman George Santos, which occurred earlier in the day. Fetterman replied, "We have a colleague in the Senate that has actually done much more sinister and serious kinds of things, Senator Menendez. He needs to go. And if you are going to expel Santos, how can you allow to somebody like Menendez to remain in the Senate?"

"Menendez, I think is really a Senator for Egypt, not New Jersey. I really think he needs to go," Fetterman added.

In a response to Newsweek, Menendez replied to Fetterman's remarks saying:
"Mr. Fetterman appears to think he's judge, jury, and executioner. The junior Senator from Pennsylvania seems to be more interested in clickbait than justice."

"He cannot say he stands for core constitutional principles of due process and the presumption of innocence when he is actively working to undermine my rights. I'm confident when all the facts are presented, I will be exonerated and the Senator will have to eat his words," said Senator Menendez.

After his comments on The View, Fetterman was met with praise on social media from lawyer and Republican National Committee member Harmeet K. Dhillon. Dhillon posted to X, formerly Twitter, saying, "Wow. He's saying things most Republicans in Congress won't say! Good for him."

X account Republicans against Trump also said, "Following Santos's expulsion, Dem Senator John Fetterman calls on the Senate to expel Sen. Menendez: "If you are going to expel Santos, how can you allow somebody like Menendez to remain in the Senate?" Country over party."

Conservative activist Scott Presler took to X saying, "I can't believe I'm actually agreeing with Fetterman."

Corbin Sabol, failed Republican candidate for California State Assembly, also said on X, "Fetterman is a better spokesman for the Republican Party than Republicans are."