Philadelphia DA Accuses Senator Fetterman of Political Betrayal in Heated Immigration Debate
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner launched a scathing attack on Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) during a Thursday appearance on CNN, accusing his fellow Democrat of having "completely sold out" the principles that defined his political campaign. The confrontation centers on inflammatory rhetoric comparing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to Nazis, with Krasner defending his controversial statements while Fetterman condemns them as potentially violent incitement.
"The Favorite Democratic Senator of Donald Trump"
During his interview on "The Source with Kaitlin Collins," Krasner made the explosive claim that Fetterman has become "the favorite Democratic senator of Donald Trump." He elaborated that this perceived alignment stems from what he views as Fetterman's abandonment of core democratic values. "He's said that repeatedly. And that's because John Fetterman has completely sold out the principles on which he ran for office," Krasner asserted.
The Philadelphia prosecutor, who revealed he personally voted for Fetterman, expressed deep disappointment in the senator's recent political trajectory. "But what he's been doing, for quite some time, for whatever reason — and we all know there may be a few reasons — is completely unacceptable for anyone who actually believes in democracy and who actually believes in the rule of law," Krasner continued, hinting at possible motivations behind Fetterman's shifting positions.
Nazi Comparison Sparks Political Firestorm
The controversy erupted earlier this week when conservative news outlets highlighted Krasner's characterization of ICE agents as "a small bunch of wannabe Nazis." The district attorney had added inflammatory remarks suggesting these federal officers could be "hunted down" similarly to Nazi war criminals following World War II.
Fetterman responded forcefully during a Wednesday appearance on Fox News, declaring: "That's gross, and I absolutely condemn that, absolutely. Do not compare anyone to Nazis. Don't use that kind of rhetoric. That can incite violence and ... I strongly reject that and condemn that kind of language in the strongest terms. You know, members of ICE are not Nazis."
Fetterman's Political Evolution Creates Democratic Rift
The senator's condemnation marks a notable departure from his previous political positioning. While Fetterman had regularly criticized former President Donald Trump over false claims about the 2020 election, he has recently taken positions that align more closely with conservative viewpoints. He became the only Democratic senator to support Trump's 2024 nomination for Attorney General Pam Bondi and publicly criticized former Vice President Kamala Harris for labeling Trump a "fascist." These moves earned Fetterman praise from Trump himself, who last year called him "the most sensible" Democrat.
Krasner Defends Controversial Rhetoric
When pressed during his CNN interview about whether he could have made his point about ICE without invoking Nazi comparisons, Krasner remained defiant. "Why would I do that? The reality is, they're taking almost everything they do out of the Nazi playbook," he responded. However, he clarified that he hadn't characterized "all" ICE agents as Nazis, acknowledging there are "a lot of great federal officers."
Krasner emphasized that his central argument focused on accountability for alleged criminal conduct. "The point I was making is actually very straightforward," he explained. "When you kill people, we can hunt you down and bring you to justice, in 10 years, or 20 or 30 years, just like what happened with the Golden State Killer, who was a serial killer in California." He drew parallels between pursuing Nazi war criminals and holding contemporary law enforcement accountable for serious offenses.
Broader Context of Federal-Local Tensions
The heated exchange occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions between local prosecutors and federal immigration authorities. Krasner recently vowed to prosecute federal officers who violate state laws, joining a coalition of prosecutors called "Fight Against Federal Overreach" (F.A.F.O.). This initiative follows Saturday's fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and the earlier killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Good by an ICE officer this month.
Political divisions surrounding the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies have intensified as eyewitness videos captured Border Protection officers fatally shooting Pretti. Krasner's controversial comments and Fetterman's forceful rejection of them highlight deepening fractures within the Democratic Party over appropriate rhetoric and policy approaches to immigration enforcement.
