DV Journal

Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators, Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, are sponsoring a resolution opposing antisemitism.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel, antisemitism has grown in the United States, especially on college campuses. In 2024, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the country. That represents a five percent increase from the 8,873 incidents recorded in 2023, a 344 percent increase over the past five years, and a 893 percent increase over the past 10 years.

It’s the highest number on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents 46 years ago.

The resolution mentions the June 1 attack on a peaceful gathering in Boulder, Colo., where an Egyptian illegal immigrant attacked a group that included an elderly Holocaust survivor with Molotov cocktails and a flamethrower.

And it cites the May 21 killing in Washington, D.C., of two young Israeli Embassy employees by a suspect who shouted “Free, free Palestine.”

And, it noted that the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion was set ablaze during Passover while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were asleep.

“Antisemitism has no place is America,” said McCormick (R). “Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Jewish community has faced unprecedented and persistent antisemitic hate and violence. This hatred cannot stand. Living in Squirrel Hill, right around the corner from the site of the devastating Tree of Life Synagogue attack in 2018, really brings this issue home for me. Protecting my friends and neighbors, and all Jewish people across the country, must be a national priority. I’m proud to team up with Sen. Fetterman, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to unequivocally condemn the alarming surge in antisemitic hate across the country.”

“Amid a despicable rise in antisemitism, including the hateful arson at Gov. Shapiro’s home in Pennsylvania, the shocking violence in Boulder, and the deadly attack on the Israeli embassy staff in D.C., we are starkly reminded that silence is complicity,” said Fetterman (D). “These appalling attacks on our Jewish communities are not isolated events. After 11 lives were stolen at the Tree of Life massacre in 2018, I’ve felt an even stronger moral obligation to confront antisemitism wherever it appears and stand united against hate.”

Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) introduced the House version.

“This resolution sends a clear message, and I am proud to see it introduced in the Senate,” said Van Drew. “The United States will not tolerate the rise in violent antisemitism we are seeing across the country. Jewish Americans are being threatened, harassed, and attacked simply because of their faith, and that is completely unacceptable. I introduced this resolution because Congress has a responsibility to lead. We cannot look the other way when hatred and violence target our fellow Americans. The House stood together and made it clear that we are united in standing against antisemitism wherever it appears, and the Senate must do the same.”

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia released this statement: “The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia commends Sens. McCormick and Fetterman for introducing a bipartisan resolution condemning the alarming rise in antisemitism, including the recent attacks in Harrisburg, Washington, D.C., and Boulder. As our Jewish community continues to face growing threats of hate and violence, we are deeply grateful for the support of state leaders and allies who stand with us. Their commitment is vital to advancing meaningful, lasting change and ensuring the safety and dignity of all communities.”

While many Americans expressed outrage over scenes of federal immigration agents and local police being attacked by angry protesters in Los Angeles, most of the Democrats representing the Delaware Valley shrugged off the story with a “no comment” on Monday.

For three days, anti-ICE protesters set cars ablaze, blocked roads, and bashed cop cars with concrete in response to immigration enforcement actions in the area. And for three days, Americans, including here in Pennsylvania, watched the images on cable news and social media—videos of protesters waving Mexican flags in front of flaming vehicles.

President Donald Trump responded to the rioting by sending in the California National Guard, over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). The latter used Philadelphia’s sports celebrations to mock the idea that there were major riots in his city.

“Are you going to send in the Marines the next time the Philadelphia Eagles win, too?” Newsom’s press office tweeted as the unrest continued.

On Monday, Trump responded by doing just that, announcing some 700 Marines will be dispatched to protect federal property and employees in Los Angeles. According to the federal Department of Homeland Security, at one point, some 1,000 rioters had surrounded a federal law enforcement building, assaulting ICE law enforcement officers, slashing tires, and defacing the building. Though LAPD headquarters is located just five minutes away, “It took the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) two hours to respond.”

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) released a statement linking Democratic politics and actions to the violence in Los Angeles.

“Democrat-run sanctuary cities have outright ignored and refused to enforce the law for years. Just days ago, one mayor compared ICE agents to neo-Nazis. Now, we’re seeing violence and vandalism in response to border patrol agents trying to do their jobs. This type of rhetoric and behavior is totally unacceptable in America.”

But many Democrats across the U.S. have denounced Trump and defended the rioters — or at least offered justifications for their actions. Twenty-two Democratic governors, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, signed a letter denouncing Trump’s deployment of the National Guard over Newsom’s objections.

U.S. Rep Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a Democratic congressional leader, said Monday, “Trump responded to peaceful protests standing up for immigrants in Los Angeles with tear gas and rubber bullets. He’s a wannabe dictator using violence to advance his authoritarian playbook.”

But here in southern Pennsylvania, congressional Democrats have largely dodged the debate.

U.S. Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware) declined to respond to requests for comment, nor have they posted any comments on Twitter/X.

DVJournal asked Shapiro to weigh in. Shapiro, a former state attorney general with a law-and-order reputation, declined to respond to questions about events in L.A.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) didn’t comment, but she did retweet a statement from the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee where she serves.

“The federalization and deployment of the California National Guard over the objections of state and local officials in California risks dangerous escalation of the situation in Los Angeles County.”

All three local Democrats have voted against increased immigration enforcement efforts, including the Laken Riley Act, which was passed earlier this year. Both the results of the 2024 elections and recent polling show that most Americans believe Democrats have fumbled the immigration enforcement issue. CBS News just released a poll last weekend showing Americans solidly support Trump’s policy of deporting illegal aliens, 54 to 46 percent.

Members of SEIU protest ICE raids in Philadelphia on Monday.

But Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) posted on X a warning to his fellow Democrats, complete with a photo of cars on fire in L.A.

“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that. This is anarchy and true chaos. My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement,” said Fetterman.

Bucks County Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick tweeted in part, “It is as simple as this: If you do not support law and order, then you do not support democracy itself. Period. Legal immigration and the enforcement of the rule of the law are the hallmarks of American Democracy. Disrespecting and harming our law enforcement officers, destroying people’s property, and disrespecting the rule of law are the hallmarks of those who seek to destroy American Democracy. I stand, and will always stand, with respecting the rule of law, those who enforce it, and those who follow it.”

Also on Monday, some 200 anti-ICE protesters with the Philadelphia Service Employees International Union (SEIU) demonstrated in Philadelphia near Independence Hall. SEIU members are irate that longtime labor leader and civil rights activist David Huerta was arrested in Los Angeles after he tried to organize an effort to block ICE agents from being able to execute a federal search warrant.

At the rally in Philadelphia, local SEIU official Sam Williams led the crowd in chants of “Stop the ICE raids now” and “Free David Huerta.”

Huerta was released from federal custody Monday on a $50,000 bond after a hearing in federal court in Los Angeles.

“The Trump administration has a zero-tolerance policy for criminal behavior and violence, especially when that violence is aimed at law enforcement officers trying to do their jobs,” said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. “These criminals will be arrested and swiftly brought to justice. The commander-in-chief will ensure the laws of the United States are executed fully and completely.”

Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators are nothing if not collegial.

Sens. John Fetterman (D) and Dave McCormick (R) discussed foreign policy, border security, and President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Monday morning at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston. The event was part of “The Senate Project” series, moderated by Fox News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream, and livestreamed on Fox Nation.

While it was called a debate, there were few strong disagreements during what amounted to a cordial conversation about current events.

Bream asked the two Pennsylvania senators about Sunday’s Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, Colo. targeting people demonstrating in support of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas terrorists.

McCormick, who just returned from a trip to Israel, said he traveled there not long after the Oct. 7 terror attack and “saw first-hand what had taken place that day.”

“But the thing that was most surprising was to see these huge rallies and hatred, really, at the University of Pennsylvania and other places…This wasn’t free speech. This was intimidation and sometimes physical violence.”

U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick participate in “The Senate Project” series at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston on June 2, 2025.

“This is something we have to stand up against,” said McCormick.

Fetterman first met McCormick at a service remembering the fifth anniversary of the antisemitic massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

“It’s astonishing the kinds of rank antisemitism (not) under control,” said Fetterman. “This is just rampant across universities.”

“And now for me politically, being very on the side of Israel, puts parts of my party at odds,” said Fetterman. “I think we need to deliver a legislative solution to it.”

For the last 18 months, he’s been followed by protesters screaming “Free, Palestine” and “Genocide John,” Fetterman said. “That’s a small, small thing. I can’t imagine how members of the Jewish community must feel, constantly under assault.”

“That’s not free speech,” Fetterman said, echoing McCormick. “Building tent cities on campus and terrorizing and intimidating Jewish students, that’s not free speech.”

Fetterman pushed back on the argument that Israel wants to see tragedy in Gaza.

“You know who does want that? That’s Hamas,” Fetterman said. “I think we should blame Iran and Hamas, and other people blame Israel. I refuse to allow them to turn Israel into a pariah state.”

Fetterman would like to see Iran’s nuclear facilities bombed.

“I think we have an opportunity to destroy that nuclear facility,” said Fetterman. “They’re definitely enriching uranium now. They’re at 60 percent, 900 pounds of that. And it’s a short step to get to weapons grade.”

Israel destroyed Iran’s defenses after that country attacked it, and now, “we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to destroy that facility,” said Fetterman.

McCormick again agreed with his Democratic counterpart, pointing out that Iran has publicly stated its goal of destroying Israel, as well as “the Great Satan, which is the United States.” A nuclear-armed Iran is “an unacceptable outcome.”

“And President Trump has said any deal would have to have complete dismantling of the nuclear program,” McCormick added.

Fetterman supports sanctions against Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

McCormick agreed. But he put the blame for the war on Joe Biden and his handling of Afghanistan, as well as the “very weak signaling on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, all of these things gave a green light to Putin to go into Ukraine.”

The senators disagreed on Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which is pending in the Senate. Fetterman said he’s a no vote because he does not want to cut Medicaid or SNAP (food stamps).

“I see people standing in lines for food, and it’s not because they want free stuff,” he said. “It’s because they don’t have enough to eat. That’s a real thing. And I don’t think that’s an appropriate target.”

McCormick pointed out that the GOP’s goal is to get Medicaid and other social services to people who truly need them — and who are eligible for them.

“We agree we should not take benefits away from vulnerable people. I’m not advocating with Medicaid that we cut benefits from people who the program was designed,” McCormick said.

“But what’s happened is Medicaid spending has grown by $250 million in five years. It’s the fastest-growing line in the budget. SNAP has grown by $80 million in the last five years. Part of the reason those programs have grown is there are people taking advantage — working-aged men without dependents. And those are illegal immigrants in a number of cases.”

Fetterman was generally critical of the GOP spending plan, but he was willing to cross the aisle and support the bill’s money for border security.

“Our party did not handle the border appropriately,” said Fetterman. “That’s a national security issue, and that’s chaos.” But he’s also pro-immigration, “as a Democrat.”

Fetterman has been under attack from the political left, including in The Inquirer, with progressives responding to his support for Israel by suggesting he’s suffering mental incapacity. Bream pointed out McCormick has come to Fetterman’s defense in the face of those charges.

“It’s part of this weird smear,” said Fetterman, who said he’s getting more and more “incoming” for being for Israel, for a strong border, and against shutting down the government. He’s also been attacked for what some suggest is absenteeism.

Fetterman acknowledged he’d missed some votes, but it was strategic.

“I have three young kids,” Fetterman said, and he sometimes skipped procedural votes to spend more time with them. “That’s a choice that I made.”

“If you want to attack me for that, go ahead,” he added “But I’d like to point out that, you know, Bernie and Sen. Murray missed more. Why isn’t the left media yelling and saying they’re not doing their job?”

McCormick said he was happy to defend Fetterman, but he wasn’t sure if that would create even more political problems for the Democrat.

“The same people that elected me, elected him for the most part,” said McCormick. “They overlap. We both care deeply about Pennsylvania…We have many disagreements but the thing we both agree on, is it’s an honor to serve Pennsylvania and we want to work together.”

(From a press release)

On May 22,  U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) joined a bipartisan group of his Senate colleagues to introduce the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act, which would aid in the recovery of Nazi-looted art and deliver justice for Holocaust survivors and their families.

“Eighty years after the Holocaust, we have a moral responsibility to do right by the victims of these atrocities and their families,” said Fetterman. “I’m grateful to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in introducing the HEAR Act to help return artwork stolen by the Nazis to its rightful owners.”

Nazi Germany’s campaign of annihilation and genocide against the Jewish people in the Holocaust included massive theft of property, including hundreds of thousands of works of art. Despite post-war efforts by the United States and allies to return Nazi-looted art and renewed efforts since the late 1990s, more than 100,000 works of art have not been returned to their rightful owners.

In 2016, Congress unanimously passed the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act to ensure Holocaust survivors and their heirs could access U.S. courts to pursue claims for the recovery of Nazi-looted art, allowing cases to be decided on their factual merits rather than dismissed on time-based technical defenses. Congress found that the circumstances of the Holocaust imposed extraordinary obstacles to survivors and heirs to locate and recover stolen art, necessitating a national six-year statute of limitations that only begins when the owner actually discovers the location of the stolen artwork.

Unfortunately, many museums, governments, and institutions have contradicted Congress’ intent and obstructed justice by stonewalling legitimate claims, obscuring provenance, and employing aggressive legal tactics designed to exhaust and outlast survivors and their families. Rather than embracing transparency and reconciliation, too many have chosen to entrench and litigate, effectively preserving possession of stolen works rather than returning them to their rightful owners. Moreover, some court cases have interpreted the law narrowly, leaving survivors without recourse.

The original HEAR Act includes a sunset provision and is set to expire December 31, 2026. This legislation would amend and reauthorize the original law to ensure victims of the Holocaust are not denied justice by legal loopholes, institutional intransigence, or the mere passage of time. As antisemitism continues to rise around the world, this legislation would send a clear message that the United States will not allow looting to be legitimized, justice to be denied, or Holocaust profiteering to be tolerated.

The HEAR Act would:

• Eliminate the sunset date, recognizing that the challenges of restitution remain urgent and unresolved;
• Clarify and strengthen procedural protections to ensure that claims are considered on their merits and not dismissed due to time-based technical defenses or other non-merits discretionary defenses;
• And fortify victims’ remedies and access to the courts.

Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) led introduction of the HEAR Act, and, along with Sen. Fetterman, Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) cosponsored the legislation.

“The artwork wrongfully ripped from Jewish hands during the Holocaust bears witness to a chapter in history when evil persisted and the worst of humanity was on full display,” said Cornyn. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation to support the Jewish people and Holocaust survivors by helping them recover art confiscated by the Nazis that they are rightfully owed and give them the justice and restitution they deserve.”

“The theft of art by the Nazi regime was more than a pilfering of property—it was an act of inhumanity,” said Blumenthal. “Our bipartisan effort seeks to strengthen measures to bring long overdue justice to families whose cherished art was brazenly stolen by the Nazis.”

“This legislation helps to right a historic wrong committed during one of the darkest chapters in history,” Tillis said. “By eliminating unnecessary legal obstacles, the HEAR Act establishes a clear path to restitution for Holocaust survivors and their families, ensuring that art and cultural property stolen by the Nazis can finally be returned to their rightful owners.”

“Despite decades’ long efforts by the United States and allies to return Nazi-looted art to Holocaust victims and their heirs, over 100,000 works of art have yet to be recovered and returned to their rightful owners,” said Booker. “I’m proud to join Senator Cornyn in introducing this important bill that updates federal law to ensure that survivors and their heirs finally regain possession of their stolen art.”

“Hundreds of thousands of pieces of artwork were taken from the Jewish people during the Holocaust, and survivors in the United States should not be unfairly barred from claiming artwork that is theirs,” said Blackburn. “The Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act would ensure Holocaust survivors and their heirs have a fair opportunity to recover artwork stolen from them by resolving claims based on merits.”

“Stealing artwork from Jewish families during the Holocaust wasn’t just an act of thievery, it was meant to dehumanize the victims,” said Schmitt. “Decades later many families are still seeking justice, and it’s time we help Holocaust survivors and their families recover the cherished art that is rightfully theirs.”

“The HEAR Act of 2025 empowers Holocaust survivors and their families to continue to be heard in court and to reclaim their part of history,” Britt said. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan bill that would clarify the intent of the original legislation — honoring and dignifying the families of individuals whose property was stolen or sold by the Nazi regime over 80 years ago.”

The legislation is endorsed by Art Ashes, Agudath Israel of America, American Jewish Committee (AJC), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Bet Tzedek, House of Justice, Christians United for Israel (CUFI Action Fund), Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), Holocaust Survivors Foundation USA, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Jewish Women International (JWI), Justice for Atrocities Clinic, LMU Loyola Law School, Simon Wiesenthal Center, StandWithUs, The 1939 Society, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, and World Jewish Congress.

As more details emerge about the Passover night arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion — while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept — politicians in both parties are denouncing political violence and demanding answers about Sunday night’s events.

“The situation with Gov. Shapiro and his lovely wife and the children is heart-wrenching,” state Sen. Tracy Pennicuick (R-Berks/Montgomery) told the DVJournal podcast. “I can only imagine how they are just devastated to be attacked like that.”

What some Pennslyvanians can’t imagine is how the alleged arsonist, Cody A. Balmer of Harrisburg, was able to get into the governor’s mansion with incendiary devices and ignite them. Was there a major security failure? The state police announced Wednesday they will hire a third-party to review the security and what happened at the governor’s mansion when the defendant breached the fence.

“I was surprised, alarmed, and, quite frankly, I couldn’t believe that happened,” former state police commissioner Glenn Walp told NBC News. “This could have turned into something far worse. It could have been a tremendous tragedy.”

The arson attack is just the latest in a series of political or ideologically motivated acts of violence in recent months. The most infamous was the assassination attempt targeting Donald Trump in Butler, Pa., last July, when a bullet came within inches of killing him.

Tesla vehicles and showrooms have been set ablaze as protesters expressed their anger against Elon Musk, who is spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

And just last week, a Wisconsin 17-year-old was arrested after allegedly killing both his parents as part of a plot to assassinate Trump.

Former Delaware Valley Congressman Jim Gerlach is part of the bipartisan Democracy Defense Project, which is working to restore faith in democratic institutions and push back against divisive politics. He sees a connection between the rise in heated rhetoric and political violence.

The arson attack is “another sign that, not only in Pennsylvania but across the country, where some people think they can play out their political frustrations by undertaking violent acts,” Gerlach told the DVJournal podcast. “And so we are really, from a cultural standpoint, in a sad situation right now, where I hope the pendulum starts swinging back the other way.”

The Passover night attack on Shapiro, who is Jewish, raises concerns to another level, particularly with progressives using provocative language about Israel during protests over the Jewish nation’s war with Hamas. Crowds regularly call for “intifada” — a reference to a series of violent attacks carried out by Palestinians against Israeli civilians — and chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free.” The latter is viewed by many as a call for the destruction of the Jewish state.

State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), who co-chairs the Jewish Caucus, said in a statement she finds it “hard to believe it’s mere coincidence that the attack occurred on the first night of Passover.”

The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition (PJC), along with the Jewish Federations of Greater Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Greater Pittsburgh, Lehigh Valley, and Northeastern Pennsylvania released a joint statement.

“The attacker admitted to ‘harboring hatred’ toward Gov. Shapiro. While it has not yet been determined whether this act will be formally classified as a hate crime, the symbolism of attacking a residential space used for a Jewish religious observance by a Jewish governor on Passover cannot be overlooked,” they wrote.

The Jewish Coalition added, “Antisemitic attacks have risen significantly across Pennsylvania and the United States in recent years. These acts must not be tolerated in any civilized society. Everyone has the right to worship freely, and our differences should not only be tolerated—but embraced and celebrated.”

Watching the uptick in political violence, Gerlach says it’s time to hold elected officials responsible when they use irresponsible rhetoric.

“I think there has to be a strong message sent by the members of Congress themselves. So if a member does that, they have to immediately bring a censure resolution against that member,” Gerlach said. And if a representative continues to advocate violence, “then they should even consider kicking that member out of Congress.”

Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), who was just elected to the Senate in November, published a column in The Free Press also pointing a finger at political leaders for the climate of violence.

“Shapiro is a Democrat. I’m a Republican who supports President Donald Trump. But this isn’t a moment for partisanship. It’s time for all Americans to disown, condemn, and make every effort to stop political violence. And we must likewise call on our political leaders to avoid language that vilifies those on the other side.”

Pennycuick understands that people are going to disagree on political issues, but there is no reason the people of Pennsylvania should be divided.

“I may not agree with everyone in my district, but I certainly would like to think that I can always have a glass of wine and a conversation with them.”

Trump appointee David Metcalf has been sworn in as interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The White House has nominated Metcalf to a four year term. His appointment must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Metcalf most recently worked as Amazon’s corporate counsel for government and regulatory litigation.

Metcalf previously served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for this office and the District of Maryland, where he also served as deputy chief of appeals. There, he won an award for his prosecution of organized crime. He also served as a senior DOJ official and senior counsel to the United States Deputy Attorney General and United States Attorney General.

Before his DOJ career,  Metcalf was an associate at Covington and Burling LLP and clerked for Judge Albert Diaz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Metcalf is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Princeton University.

“I’m pleased to once again serve the people of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,” Metcalf said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues here to uphold the rule of law and prosecute criminals who threaten our communities.”

Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) said via X, “While we have an agreed-upon process with the White House for assessing and recommending U.S. Attorney candidates, the administration informed us earlier this week of its desire to accelerate this process for the Eastern District and nominate David Metcalf to serve as U.S. Attorney. Although I do not know Mr. Metcalf, I look forward to meeting with him and exploring his qualifications for this important role.”

McCormick had previously announced commissions to make recommendations for the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal appointments. Applications were due by the end of March. However, President Donald Trump didn’t wait for that process to play out and announced his appointment of Metcalf. Usually, a state’s U.S. senators are consulted and give the president their recommendation for a U.S. Attorney.

Last month, Trump made headlines when he fired all the U.S. Attorneys appointed by President Biden. The dismissal of U.S. attorneys after a change in administration is typical, particularly when there is a change of party as well.

Metcalf replaces Biden appointee Jacqueline Romero, who resigned after Trump was elected.

The appointment of a Republican U.S. Attorney has more significance in southeastern Pennsylvania than other places.

State Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester) has proposed a bill establishing a Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF) that would get the U.S. Attorney — as well as the state attorney general and other state and local agencies — involved in the fight against gun crime. It’s a response in part to the policies of progressive District Attorney Larry Krasner.

“Between 2018 and 2024, more than 12,000 people were shot in Philadelphia, with nearly 2,500 of those shootings proving fatal,” Williams said in a statement. “We must bring the full weight of law enforcement to combat this crisis. This legislation creates a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force with direct prosecutorial authority to remove violent felons from our streets.”

President Donald Trump’s whirlwind of “swift and unrelenting” action during his first 90 days in office appears to have congressional Democrats flummoxed.

During Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday, some Democrats silently held up protest signs, a few — including Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon — made a scene of walking out in the middle, and cane-waving Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was expelled when he refused repeated warnings to stop disrupting the event.

And Democrats made the decision not to stand up or applaud for the special guests Trump acknowledged in his remarks. That included a 13-year-old cancer survivor who was made an honorary Secret Service agent, the mother of Laken Riley who was murdered by an illegal immigrant, and Payton McNabb, a young woman who was seriously injured while playing volleyball against a biological male on the opposing women’s team.

“House and Senate Democratic leaders didn’t join the escort committee for the president. Dems turned their back on him when he entered the chamber and didn’t shake his hand,” reported CNN’s Manu Raju. “They didn’t applaud virtually anything. Several walked out in the middle of the speech.”

The refusal of Democrats to join them left many on both sides of the aisle in shock.

“The behavior of Democrats last night was completely disgraceful and demonstrated how severely out of touch they are with the American public. It was the most shameful moment in the history of presidential addresses in that beautiful chamber,” said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt Wednesday morning.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) took his party to task in a post on X/Twitter.

“A sad cavalcade of self-ownership and unhinged petulance. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained. We’re becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to—and it may not be the winning message,” Fetterman wrote.

He’s not the only Democrat denouncing his party’s behavior.

“I agree with him.  It feeds the narrative that the place is filled with unserious dopes,” said Democratic political consultant TJ Rooney.

Dan Turrentine, a longtime Democrat and co-host of the popular Morning Meeting on the 2Way platform said, “It was embarrassing to be a Democrat last night.”

“It was a disgrace that they would not show some humanity for the child, for the man who got into West Point, which is just an amazing accomplishment,” Turrentine said. Like many Democrats, the day after, he worries his party is veering farther from the views of average Americans.

“I think the bottom line is our leadership has no clothes,” Turrentine said. “We need to get our head screwed back on. Hopefully, last night was the bottom of the barrel, and we will start the march back.”

Asked about Fetterman’s criticism, Mark Nevins, a Democratic consultant, told DVJournal, “There was nothing substantive about last night. Not the president, not the cheering Republicans, not the booing Democrats. It was just swamp noise. In the real world outside of Washington, D.C., real people are getting hammered with the increased cost of just about everything and Trump’s agenda is going to make it all even worse. Unless we’re talking about that, we’re wasting time and energy.”

Muhlenberg College political science Professor Christopher Borick said, “I think Fetterman’s analysis has validity. Some of the actions by Democrats in attendance certainly didn’t help their standing. I think the best strategy in that particular setting would have been to remain silent and keep the focus on the president’s behaviors that included name-calling and belittling others in a setting where unification of the country is usually the focus. The Democrats may have played into Trump’s hands.”

Jeff Jubelirer, vice president of Bellevue Communications, agreed.

“The Democrats played into Trump’s hands,” he said. “There’s nothing more satisfying to him than a fight, and he got it. The problem was he had, and has, the bully pulpit, and he’s every bit the bully.

“It’s time to come up with a different approach,” said Jubelirer. “Bringing fired federal workers to the speech who, other than being a government employee, did nothing to deserve their fate? Better move, Democrats. Anyone with a heart can empathize with them…most importantly, the so-called ‘middle America’ folks who aren’t already completely burrowed inside the Trump GOP or Democratic camps. Their stories, as told in first person, are much more impactful than wearing pink, shouting out, or merely holding up signs in protest.”

“I respectfully disagree with Sen. Fetterman’s post,” said Chester County Democratic Chair Charlotte Valyo. “There are several ways to respond to President Trump’s speech, and we can disagree on the best method. But we would all agree that the sad spectacle we saw from the president and his Republican sycophants was more a MAGA rally speech, with all his whining and lying, and less like an honest discussion with the nation about where we are headed. The speech was disrespectful, divisive, and hate-filled. It was unworthy of a presidential speech.”

However, the American people liked the speech, according to some polls taken immediately afterward.

A CBS poll found 76 percent of Americans approved of the speech. And a CNN poll showed 69 percent of Americans had a positive reaction.

Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) said, “President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to the renewal of the American Dream and made clear that ‘Promises Made, Promises Kept’ is not just a slogan—it’s a reality.”

Freshman Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) said on X, “Honored to attend my first Joint Session Address by President Trump. His speech made clear he is making huge progress every day on delivering for Americans on securing the border, fixing the economy, and restoring U.S. dominance on the world stage.”

Another one bites the dust.

Sen. John Fetterman’s steadfast support for Israel has reportedly led to the departure of six staff members in recent weeks.

According to The Intercept, a former Fetterman (D-Pa.) staffer said his staunch support of the Jewish state coincided with his “disavowal of progressive politics” and his openness toward working with President Donald Trump, who is also a firm ally of Israel.

When Fetterman campaigned in 2022, he ran as a progressive Democrat. However, he suffered a stroke in May 2022, which limited his time on the campaign trail.  But voters who spoke to DVJournal after attending the event Fetterman missed that night said they supported him because he was a progressive.

But perhaps it’s just smart politics.  Fetterman may have noted the country has shifted toward the right with the overwhelming support in both the popular vote and swing states for Trump in 2024.  While the DelVal Democratic congresswomen opposed the Laken Riley Bill, Fetterman sponsored it in the Senate. Named for a 22-year-old nursing student murdered by an illegal immigrant, that law requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain illegal aliens who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.

Fetterman has also voted for some of Trump’s cabinet members, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He broke with the progressive camp to sponsor a bill to protect Jewish college students from antisemitism on campus.

But dissatisfaction among Fetterman’s progressive staffers is not new.

Last March, three of Fetterman’s communication staff also left his office for more progressive pastures, including his former communications director, Joe Calvello, who went to work for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johson.  Calvello had previously worked for socialist Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).Another staffer at that time went to work for Sen. Bob Casey.  Casey (D-Pa.) has since lost his seat to Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.).

Fetterman did not respond to a request to comment for this article.

Pennsylvania is celebrating the release of Pittsburgh-area teacher Marc Fogel, who was wrongfully detained in a Russian prison for three years.

Russian authorities arrested Fogel and sentenced him to 14 years for possessing a small amount of medical marijuana to cope with pain from a severe back injury.

One of those celebrating is fellow western Pennsylvanian, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), who met Fogel’s 95-year-old mother while campaigning and continued to advocate for Fogel’s release.

“I am thrilled that Marc Fogel is finally coming home after years of being wrongfully held in Russia,” McCormick said. “I have been working on this since meeting Marc’s mother at the (Donald Trump campaign) Butler rally in July, and I’m grateful to President Trump and Secretary Rubio for delivering on their commitment to free Marc. As I told Marc’s mom, Mafa, when we first met, we would do everything possible to get Marc home. It is a blessing that this day has finally come.”

Sen. Dave McCormick with Marc Fogel’s mother, Malfine.

McCormick pressed Fogel’s case in public hearings and private meetings with administration officials. During his second week as a senator, McCormick met with then-secretary of state nominee Marco Rubio to discuss Fogel’s case. He raised it again during Rubio’s public confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It was McCormick’s first question at a hearing after arriving in the Senate, and Rubio committed to securing Fogel’s freedom.

McCormick also spoke with Special Envoys Steve Witkoff, Adam Boehler, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz to discuss Fogel’s case and advocate for his release.

And McCormick released a bipartisan, bicameral letter with Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) urging Rubio to “unlock all of the tools at the U.S. Government’s disposal to advocate for Marc’s release.”

Eleven members of the Pennsylvania House delegation signed on, including Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks), Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia), Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester), Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh), Rob Bresnahan (R-Wayne), Dan Meuser (R-Lebanon), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Fayette), Glenn Thompson (R-Armstrong), Mike Kelly (R-Erie), and Chris Deluzio (D-Beaver).

Fetterman said, “Marc Fogel’s return home is long overdue—and I know all of Pennsylvania, especially his family, will be welcoming him back with open arms.

“I commend President Trump and Steve Witkoff for their efforts in finally bringing Marc home,” he added.

“Marc Fogel is coming home,” Dean said. “It’s a sigh of relief. Marc is a father, a husband, a son, and an educator — today, I’m thinking, with joy and hope, of his loved ones. And I’m praying for his health and safety on the journey home and for love and healing in his homecoming.”

Trump welcomed Fogel to the White House, saying his release made good a promise he’d made to Fogel’s mother, Malphine, that if elected, he would bring him home.

President Donald Trump and Marc Fogel.
(CREDIT: White House)

“President Trump is a hero … I will forever be indebted to President Trump, to Steve [Witkoff] over there — what a dynamic man this guy is. When I met him, the energy, the can-do attitude just exudes from his body,” Fogel said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) said, “After more than three years in Russian captivity, I join his family, our federal partners, and all of his fellow Pennsylvanians in welcoming Marc Fogel home — exactly where he belongs. Thank you to those at the @WhiteHouse who made his release possible, and to his wife Jane, mom, siblings, and kids here in Pennsylvania who never, ever gave up.”

In exchange for Fogel’s release, Trump traded Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik, who was charged with cryptocurrency money laundering and fraud, the New York Post reported. Fogel had remained imprisoned during former President Joe Biden’s term.

If the success of Donald Trump and the GOP in November’s election sent a message from voters about illegal immigration, it didn’t reach the Democrats who represent the Delaware Valley in Congress.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House cast its first vote of the 119th Congress, passing the Laken Riley Act in a bipartisan 264 to 159 vote. Every Republican supported the bill, which requires the detention of illegal immigrants caught committing robbery or theft, as did 48 Democrats.

The same bill was passed by the House last March, but died in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks/Montgomery) voted for it both times, while all three Delaware Valley Democratic congresswomen –Mary Gay Scanlon, Madeleine Dean and Chrissy Houlahan— twice voted no.

The bill now goes to the Senate, which is expected to take it up on Friday. All 53 Republicans are co-sponsoring the bill, as is one Democrat: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.).

Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was murdered last February by José Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela, while she was jogging at the University of Georgia in Athens. Ibarra had been arrested in 2022 after entering the U.S. illegally. The Biden administration then allowed him to be “paroled and released for further processing,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said.

Ibarra was later arrested by New York City police in September 2023– less than six months before killing Riley — and charged with “acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation,” according to ICE.

Ibarra was arrested again a month later, along with his brother, for allegedly shoplifting at a Walmart in Athens. But because the crime was a misdemeanor, he was released.

Riley’s murder shocked the country. It became a cause celebre, especially among Republicans, who brought up the murder at last year’s State of the Union Address, where President Biden mispronounced her name.

Riley’s body was found Feb. 22, 2024. She was repeatedly struck in the head with a rock and suffocated. Ibarra, was convicted in November and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

“Today, I voted to restore law and order at our borders and reaffirm the safety and sovereignty of our great nation,” Fitzpatrick said on X. “The Laken Riley Act delivers a clear message: those who threaten the safety of our communities will be held accountable. By mandating the immediate detention of illegal immigrants charged with crimes, this legislation puts an end to the dangerous policies that have left American families vulnerable for far too long.

“Laken’s tragic and preventable death is a sobering reminder of the price of inaction.”

Houlahan, on the other hand, attacked the legislation as “carefully written to intentionally erode constitutional protections, beginning with undocumented immigrants.”

She added, “Trump promised these kinds of dangerous changes, and the Republicans in Congress are desperately trying to satisfy him regardless of the implications of the legislation should it become law.”

Dean did not respond to requests for comment.

Scanlon said on her website, “Today, House Republicans made their first priority in the 119th Congress the passage of a bill that is best characterized as ‘legislative clickbait’ – a bill designed to generate headlines and social media clicks, rather than actually solving a problem. Unsurprisingly, H.R. 29 is a continuation of a campaign strategy of stoking fear of immigrants while doing nothing to secure the border or fix our immigration system. Instead, H.R. 29 actually creates new legal problems.”

The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain illegal aliens who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. It also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.

To reach the Senate floor, the bill will need 60 votes in the 53-47 GOP-controlled chamber. Two Democrats, Fetterman and Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, who is up for reelection in 2026, are already on board.

“Laken Riley’s story is a tragic reminder of what’s at stake when our systems fail to protect people. No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to preventable violence,” Fetterman said in a statement.

Asked about his support for the legislation, Fetterman told Fox News, “It’s really commonsense. I’d like to remind everybody that we have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of migrants here illegally convicted of crimes. Who wants to defend them, to allow them to remain in our nation?”