This is John David Brookins. In 1992, he was convicted of first-degree murder for strangling and repeatedly stabbing 58-year old mother Sheila Ginsburg, who “was found with a pair of large scissors lodged in her chest.”
Brookins was sentenced to life in prison.
John Fetterman was the lone vote to release Brookins.
What was Fetterman’s reasoning? Brookins teaches yoga in prison! Fetterman said it didn’t “square” with him how someone who has “a bachelor’s degree in horticulture” and “teaches meditation and yoga committed such a violent crime.”
Fetterman certainly didn’t believe Brookins was innocent. Before the vote, Fetterman tweeted, “I don’t know if John Brookins is innocent or not. I’m not claiming he is.” Fetterman also conceded Brookins’ testimony at his clemency hearing "wasn’t particularly strong."
So why did Fetterman vote to release him? Because Fetterman is obsessed with releasing violent convicts.
