John Fetterman seen in hospital for the first time during depression treatment: Chief of Staff releases photos of Democrat looking over rail safety bill – two weeks after he was admitted to Walter Reed
- The Pennsylvania Senator checked himself in for treatment on February 16
- His staff says, ‘John is well on his way to recovery.. and will be back soon
- Don. Trump, Jr. called Fetterman a ‘vegetable’ at CPAC over the weekend
The public has its first sighting of Sen. John Fetterman since he checked himself into the hospital for clinical depression in photos posted by his chief of staff on Monday.
The Pennsylvania Democrat entered Walter Reed Medical Center 18 days ago on February 16, leaving him absent on crucial Senate votes but his staff says they have been in contact with him regularly on work matters.
‘Productive morning with Senator Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing the rail safety legislation, Farm Bill and other Senate business,’ chief of staff Adam Jentleson wrote in a tweet along with photos of him and Fetterman looking over documents.
‘John is well on his way to recovery and wanted me to say how grateful he is for all the well wishes. He’s laser focused on PA & will be back soon.’
The public has its first sighting of Sen. John Fetterman since he checked himself into the hospital for depression in photos posted by his chief of staff Monday
The Pennsylvania Democrat entered Walter Reed Medical Center on February 16, leaving him absent on crucial Senate votes, but his staff says they have been in contact with him regularly on work matters
‘Productive morning with Senator Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing the rail safety legislation, Farm Bill and other Senate business,’ chief of staff Adam Jentleson wrote in a tweet along with photos of him and the senator
Fetterman signed onto bipartisan rail safety legislation introduced after the train derailment in East Palestine while he was in the hospital. A member of the Agriculture Committee, the senator also has a hand in drafting the farm bill Congress votes on every five years.
Fetterman, 53, sought in-patient treatment for ‘severe’ depression after being hospitalized for dizziness after the State of the Union and suffering a stroke on the campaign trail in May.
Last week Donald Trump Jr. lobbed an attack at the Democrat at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), calling him a ‘vegetable’ and saying he would be better employed as a ‘bag guy’ at a grocery store than a U.S. senator.
Meanwhile, on February 27, Fetterman’s wife Gisele posted on social media that she had taken their three kids on an impromptu trip to Niagara Falls as she figured out how to ‘navigate’ the newfound media presence outside their Braddock, Pa. home.
‘I am not really sure how to navigate this journey but am figuring it out slowly. 1 week ago today when the news dropped, the kids were off from school and media trucks circled our home,’ she tweeted.
‘I did the first thing I could think of … pack them in the car and drive,’ she wrote after it was reported her husband could spend weeks in the hospital while doctors work on treatment and medication.
During his recovery, Fetterman has struggled with sensory processing issues, and relies on simultaneous translation computer software in media interviews and to do his Senate duties.
A senior aide told NBC that it has been challenging to differentiate between the senator’s stroke recovery and the depression, with the staffer saying it’s sometimes unclear if he’s ‘not hearing you, or is he sort of crippled by his depression and social anxiety.’
Democrats control the upper chamber 51-49.
Fetterman is not the only Senator out on personal leave. Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, is being treated for shingles, Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, is home after the death of his mother, and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, is recovering from COVID. They all missed upper chamber votes last week, leaving the Senate in a 48-48 balance. Vice President Kamala Harris had to cast several tie-breaking votes.
