{"id":1025,"date":"2023-02-06T18:43:23","modified":"2024-08-16T11:18:29","slug":"fetterman-announces-dennis-horton-as-sotu-guest","link":"https:\/\/www.fetterman.senate.gov\/fetterman-announces-dennis-horton-as-sotu-guest\/","title":{"rendered":"Fetterman Announces Dennis Horton as SOTU Guest"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON, D.C. —<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman on Monday announced that Dennis \u201cFreedom\u201d Horton would be his guest to Tuesday\u2019s State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

Dennis and his brother, Lee Horton,\u00a0were incarcerated<\/a>\u00a0for nearly 28 years for a crime they did not commit. Following years of advocacy, then-Lt. Governor Fetterman led the charge as chair of Pennsylvania\u2019s Board of Pardons to commute their sentences to time served. In February of 2021, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf commuted the Hortons\u2019 life sentences and ordered their release from prison.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honor and a privilege to welcome Dennis to Washington to attend the State of the Union address with me,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Fetterman<\/b>. \u201cThe incarceration of Dennis and Lee for a crime they did not commit is a stark reminder of the work we need to do to make our criminal justice system more equitable and fair. I fought for their commutations and countless others as chair of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, and as your U.S. Senator I will continue to push for second chances for those who deserve them. We should not be a society about vengeance, we should be a society about redemption.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

From left to right: Dennis \u201cFreedom\u201d Horton, Sen. Fetterman, and Lee Horton.<\/i><\/p>\n

Following their release from prison, Dennis and Lee joined Fetterman\u2019s U.S. Senate campaign as field organizers in Philadelphia. Their relentless efforts contributed to Fetterman\u2019s primary election win in Philadelphia and his massive statewide margin in the general election.<\/p>\n","protected":false}}