PA Democratic Party chairman: ‘Our hope’ is Fetterman stays in party
PA Democratic Party chairman Eugene DePasquale addresses Fetterman speculation Wednesday in Erie, a day before Fetterman ruled out a party switch.
- Sen. John Fetterman submitted a “blue slip,” allowing President Trump’s judicial nominee, Antonio Pozos, to advance.
- Fetterman is the first Democrat to approve a judicial nominee from Trump during his second term.
- Pozos is nominated to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is once again making waves as he bucks Democrat norms and gives the go-ahead for President Donald Trump’s pick for federal judge in Pennsylvania to move forward.
Last week, the Pennsylvania member of Congress turned in his form, colloquially known as a “blue slip,” to the Senate Judiciary Committee, clearing the way for Trump-nominee Antonio Pozos to move forward to possibly serve as judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, according to Reuters.
Fetterman hasn’t commented on the move, and ultimately, Pozos still has to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Fetterman breaks from Dems, clears way for Trump pick to be federal judge in PA
Fetterman turned in a “blue slip” to make way for Senate consideration of Pozos, Trump’s pick to serve as judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Reuters reported on June 5. The Eastern District has court locations in Allentown, Easton, Philadelphia and Reading.
The move was first reported by Punchbowl News the same day, which noted that not only was Fetterman the only Democrat to turn in one of these forms in this case, but he was also the only Democrat during Trump’s second term to turn in a blue slip to allow one of his judicial nominees to advance.
Fetterman’s office did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY regarding his decision to return his blue slip.
Trump has also nominated Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Martin as judge on the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Michigan, Reuters reported. Democratic senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin have not said if they will return their blue slips for his nomination.
What happens with Trump judicial nominee in PA now?
Pozos is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 10, Reuters reported.
Progressives hope Fetterman move is a one-off for Democrats
Demand Justice, a progressive nonprofit, is planning a six-figure ad buy throughout Pennsylvania in response to Fetterman not opting to veto Trump’s nomination of Pozos, Punchbowl News reported. The group has run similar ads against some of the 19 Democrats who have voted in favor of Trump’s judicial nominees during his second term, with the group arguing that nominees should be blocked because of their refusal to say that Trump lost the 2020 election to former Democratic President Joe Biden, Reuters reported.
Demand Justice President Josh Orton said he’s hoping that Fetterman’s most recent move is just the latest in the senator’s numerous ruptures with the party rather than a sign that Democrats at large are willing to vote in favor of Trump nominations, Reuters reported.
“My hope is that returning a blue slip on a Trump judge stays as just another Fetterman turn to enabling Trump, and not something broadly adopted by the Democratic caucus,” Orton said.
Who is Antonio Pozos, and why did Trump tap him as federal judge nominee in PA?
Pozos is a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, Reuters reported. He was tapped by Trump as a nominee for federal judge on May 11, the same day Trump announced that he had chosen Martin as his moninee for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at [email protected]. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
