Democratic Divide: This Senator's Controversial Israel Stance Sparks Mass Staff Exodus

By Victor Smiroff | Monday, 01 April 2024 05:15 AM
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Democratic Divide: This Senator's Controversial Israel Stance Sparks Mass Staff Exodus

In a surprising turn of events, three key members of Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman's communication team have departed within a month, each moving to other left-leaning offices.

This development comes amidst Fetterman's increasingly divergent views on Israel and immigration, which have set him apart from his Democratic peers.

Joe Calvello, who served as Fetterman's Director of Communications in both his Senate office and his 2022 campaign, is one of the departees. An official statement from the City of Chicago earlier this month revealed that Calvello would be assuming the role of Chief Strategy Officer in the office of Chicago's Democratic Mayor, Brandon Johnson.

Calvello expressed his enthusiasm about the new role, stating, "It’s an absolute honor and a privilege to come to Chicago and serve the people of this great city."

Nicholas Gavio, Fetterman's Deputy Communication Director, announced on X last Friday that he would be joining the Working Families Party as the Mid-Atlantic Communications Director. Gavio, who also worked on Fetterman's 2022 campaign and in Senator Bernie Sander's office, will now be part of a progressive minor political party known for advocating for increased minimum wage, higher taxes on the wealthy, and environmental and educational reform.

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Emma Mustion, Fetterman's Press and Digital Aide, also announced on X earlier this month that she would be joining Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey's campaign office as a press secretary. Mustion had previously worked on Fetterman's 2022 Senate campaign.

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Fox News Digital has reached out for additional comments.

Fetterman has been carving out a unique political path for himself, recently telling Fox News that he does not identify as a "progressive." He also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her statement that it would be a "huge mistake" for Israel to launch an offensive without U.S. approval.

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Fetterman responded to Harris's statement on X, writing, "Hard disagree. Israel has the right to prosecute Hamas to surrender or to be eliminated. Hamas owns every innocent death for their cowardice hiding behind Palestinian lives."

Fetterman has become one of the Senate's most ardent supporters of Israel following the Oct. 7 massacre, distancing himself from other Democrats in Congress.

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In October, Calvello shared a screenshot on X of an office-wide email addressing the office's policies on sharing social media posts that contradicted Fetterman's positions. The email emphasized the need for the office to "work together as a team" in the wake of the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

Fetterman defended his pro-Israel stance in a conversation with CNN's Jake Tapper in January, stating, "I don’t understand why it’s controversial to anybody to decide that you’re going to stand with Israel in this situation."

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