U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, (D-Pa.) said he understands why a Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice would leave the Democratic Party — but he reiterated he would not do the same.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht, who ran as a Democrat when he was elected in 2015, said the Democratic Party has an issue with antisemitism.
“From 1998 to 2001, years that preceded my judicial career, I served as Vice-Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. In the quarter century that has passed since then, the Democratic Party has changed. Nazi tattoos, jihadist chants, intimidation and attacks at synagogues, and other hateful anti-Jewish invective and actions are minimized, ignored, and even coddled. Acquiescence to Jew-hatred is now disturbingly common among activists, leaders and even many elected officials in the Democratic Party,” he said in a statement, which Fox News Digital obtained.
“I can no longer abide this. So, I won’t. I am no longer registered within any political party,” Wecht continued in the statement. “It is my hope that Pennsylvanians, and Americans, of all viewpoints and backgrounds will oppose and resist the scourge of Jew-hatred before it undermines what our ancestors have built here.”
The justice was retained in a 2025 election.
Fetterman said he can understand Wecht’s decision.
“I know David and his legendary father, Cyril. As I’ve affirmed, I’m not changing my party — but I fully understand David’s personal choice,” Fetterman wrote on X.
“The Democratic Party must confront its own rising antisemitism problem,” he added.
Wecht’s father was an expert known for challenging official findings in cases like the JFK assassination, and serving as a key coroner.
