When John Fetterman was Lieutenant Governor of PA he was also the chair of the Board of Pardons. Fetterman was a proponent of providing clemency for those “unjustly sentenced.” He stated that he was “proud of the Board providing Second Chances” and “we can do more to fix a system that too often invests in punishment.” Where is that John Fetterman now? What seemed such a stroke of good fortune to elect such a fitting Democrat to the Senate has become a cross we must bear. What more could epitomize a second chance than the dream of immigrants coming to the US in the hope of starting anew? Yet Fetterman has thrown his support in with his good friend Markwayne Mullin to replace Kristi Noem at DHS, breaking with Democrats to cast the deciding vote to bring Mullin’s nomination out of committee. Mullin is a close friend, ally and supporter of Trump’s mass deportation policy, who once called (and conveniently retracted during hearings) Alex Pretti “deranged” and insisted that Rene Good’s shooting was justified. Mullin reassured hearing committee members that if there are “real concerns” he will “listen to them.” But nothing will “prevent [him] from doing [his] job.” If Fetterman has a sliver of commitment left to second chances, Mullin is not his man, no matter what Markwayne may say in order to be confirmed. Let us not forget that Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett both said they would adhere to stare decisis, and Kavanaugh reputedly promised Susan Collins that Roe v Wade was “settled law.” Upon confirmation, we all know what happened to Roe. Fool me once. RFK assured Senators, specifically Bill Cassidy, that he would “maintain the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).” Once confirmed, RFK fired all the incumbent members of ACIP. Fool me twice. What is in common here? These nominees, with their conservative, Trump resumés, implied, prevaricated, LIED to the Senate members in order to win confirmation, then went about Trump’s business. La la la. Why should we give any credibility to Mullin’s assurances of following the law and policy, his promises to “restore confidence” in DHS? Fool us thrice? Is Fetterman once again being duped by a disingenuous Trump nominee? Or is he a willing advocate of the Trump/Miller mass deportation crackdown? Either way, by this stroke of ill luck, Fetterman has become our Joe Manchin, our Kirsten Sinema, elected under false colors, abandoning those who championed him, who voted for him, who look for better from him, instead aligning himself with those who think second chances are only for morally and financially bankrupt billionaires who can pay top dollar for them. When 2028 rolls around, this is one Senate candidate who does not, should not, will not deserve a second chance.