SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — Former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia L. Fudge has withdrawn from her planned role as Shaker Heights High School's commencement speaker following pushback from the community regarding her past support of disgraced ex-Cuyahoga County Judge Lance Mason.
The district confirmed Fudge voluntarily asked to be removed from the graduation ceremony, scheduled to take place June 5 at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. School officials add they are now "reviewing the Commencement program," with a potential replacement now pending.
Fudge had been longtime friends with Mason and his then wife, beloved Shaker Heights elementary school teacher Aisha Fraser, when Mason brutally assaulted Fraser in 2014. The couple later divorced and Mason was sent to prison after pleading guilty, but he was released after only nine months behind bars following a two-year sentence.
Fraser did not contest her ex-husband's release, but 3News later discovered Fudge had written a letter during her time as a U.S. congresswoman supporting Mason prior to his first sentencing, calling Mason "a good man" and telling prosecutors, "Lance accepts full responsibility for his actions and has assured me that something like this will never happen again." Fudge was also accused of helping Mason get a job at Cleveland City Hall after he was set free, claims she denied.
In November of 2018, Mason fatally stabbed Fraser in front of their daughters outside a home in Shaker Heights, leaving her to die as he attempted to flee the scene. He was arrested, however, and eventually pleaded guilty to Fraser's murder the next year, receiving a sentence of 35 years to life in prison.
Mason was fired from City Hall the night of Fraser's killing, and Fudge's past support soon came under scrutiny. In response, she disavowed her friendship with Mason and offered condolences for Fraser, writing:
"My heart breaks for Aisha Fraser. I pray for Aisha’s family, especially her children, as they attempt to deal with this tragedy. My support of Lance in 2015 was based on the person I knew for almost 30 years. The person who committed these crimes is not the Lance Mason familiar to me. They were horrific crimes, and I condemn them. I and everyone who knew Aisha are mourning her loss."
Fraser's murder coincided with rumors of a potential run by Fudge for U.S. Speaker of the House, and while the controversy was never cited as a reason, she wound up deciding not to challenge Nancy Pelosi for the position. She remained in Congress through March of 2021, when she was tapped by President Joe Biden to lead HUD. She resigned from the cabinet last month.
But despite her accomplishments in government along with the passage of time, many in Shaker Heights have not forgotten her association with Mason, especially due to Fraser's status as a shining light in the district. When Fudge was announced as this year's commencement speaker, a group of students organized a petition asking for her to be removed, with nearly 1,000 people signing it as of Friday evening.
Catherine Monroe is one of those set to walk across the stage in June. Fraser was her favorite teacher years ago at Woodbury Elementary School.
"She was amazing. She was brilliant," Catherine said. "She was very supportive in all of the work that I did."
It was her feelings about Fraser that led her to start the petition against Fudge's visit, telling WKYC it "did not sit with me correctly."
"It doesn't match Shaker's values of having justice and safety and everything," she added.
Yet Fudge does have a supporter in Aisha's uncle Dr. George C. Fraser, who calls the former congresswoman "a friend" who has expressed deep remorse over her 2015 letter.
"She thought she was helping a friend," Dr. Fraser said of Fudge. "No one could predict at that time that, three years later, his anger, his psychosis would result in the brutal attack of his wife."
Dr. Fraser did express admiration for the students standing up for his niece's honor, remarking that "it warms my heart." However, he also noted Fudge's support of Aisha's Law, which would require police in Ohio to screen victims of domestic violence to assess the risk of them being killed by their partners. The bill has passed the Ohio House multiple times, but thus far has always stalled in the State Senate.
For now, Dr. Fraser hopes Aisha's former students will find grace.
"Congresswoman Fudge made a mistake, but it was an honest mistake," he said. "They will grow and understand that to err is human, and to forgive is divine."
Catherine tells us she's open to forgiveness, as well as a conversation with Fudge.
"If she just could apologize, specifically to the Shaker community, I genuinely think that would make a huge impact," Catherine stated.
3News reached out to Fudge's representatives for comment, and we were directed to Shaker Heights Schools' announcement on the withdrawal.