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While the rest of his party reluctantly retreats from an ironclad allyship with Israel, Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman's political identity is increasingly defined by a blanket defense of the country. Online, Fetterman frequently mocks critics of Israel. In interviews, he has pushed back on claims that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide. By Democratic Party standards, Fetterman’s position on Israel is extreme. There are a multitude of theories as to why. But people close to Fetterman cite a previously unreported factor: Behind the scenes, Fetterman is being encouraged and counseled by a little-known man in his late 30s named David “Dovi” Safier.
Safier, a writer of Jewish history and fundraiser for Orthodox causes, has no public background in government or counseling politicians on Capitol Hill. He is not an official staffer or paid outside adviser. A few years ago, he “just kind of appeared” in the senator’s orbit, one former Fetterman staffer remembers. And then, suddenly, he seemed to be everywhere.
Staffers would walk into Fetterman’s office, only to find Safier sitting in the room. The two are constantly texting and talking, according to multiple former Fetterman staffers, and Safier has unofficially operated as a top campaign fundraiser and senior adviser. He has even set up and attended sensitive meetings with foreign officials; in some cases, he is the only person staffing those meetings.
Read Alex Shultz’s full report on how Safier has become arguably the senator’s closest confidant, as Fetterman isolates himself from many of colleagues and members of his his own party: nymag.visitlink.me/5ZQzd0
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