Freed Philly Man Attending State Of The Union With Sen Fetterman

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man freed from prison thanks to then Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will be in Washington, DC for the State of the Union address Wednesday.

Fetterman, now a United States Senator, helped free Dennis and Lee Horton from prison after they were convicted of second-degree murder in 1993.

The brothers rejected a plea deal after contending they did not know a man they gave a ride to had committed a murder.

Fetterman during his time in office in Pennsylvania worked to free the brothers, and successfully lobbied to have their life without parole sentences commuted to time served in February 2021.

Now, Dennis will join Fetterman for the event Wednesday.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to welcome Dennis to Washington to attend the State of the Union address with me," Fetterman said. "The 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."

After their release, the brothers joined Fetterman’s U.S. Senate campaign as field organizers in Philadelphia.