BREAKING: Fetterman Back In Hospital, Being Treated For Depression

By Michael Graham, Delaware Valley Journal

February 16, 2023

U.S. Senator John Fetterman, elected despite suffering a stroke that left him partially disabled, has checked himself into a hospital to receive treatment for clinical depression, a staffer announced Thursday.

“Last night, Senator John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to receive treatment for clinical depression. While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks,” said Adam Jentleson, Fetterman’s chief of staff.

“On Monday, John was evaluated by Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress. Yesterday, Dr. Monahan recommended inpatient care at Walter Reed. John agreed, and he is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis. After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself,” Jentleson said.

Fetterman’s health has been a topic of Keystone State politics since he suffered a severe stroke just days before the May 2022 Democratic U.S. Senate primary. After initially downplaying the seriousness of his illness, Fetterman later admitted, “I almost died.”

In addition to leaving him struggling to communicate, Fetterman’s also been hampered by accusations he and his campaign hid the severity of his illness. That charge appeared to be bolstered when Fetterman was hospitalized earlier this month after feeling light-headed. After initial suggestions from his staff that it would be an overnight visit, the Senator ended up spending several days at George Washington University Hospital undergoing tests.

Fetterman’s wife, Gisele Barret0 Fetterman, tweeted a message of support: “After what he’s been through in the past year, there’s probably no one who wanted to talk about his own health less than John. I’m so proud of him for asking for help and getting the care he needs.”

Jentleson sparked political controversy last week when he suggested Fetterman’s illness was due in part to being “forced” to campaign in the November election.

“What you’re supposed to do to recover from this is do as little as possible,” told the New York Times. Instead, Fetterman “was forced to do as much as possible — he had to get back to the campaign trail. It’s hard to claw that back.”

Republicans quickly reminded the Fetterman team that he chose to remain in the race rather than allowing the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to pick a replacement due to his health issues.

“Fetterman’s own doctors have admitted he’s suffering from brain damage, and the medical ‘fit to serve’ letter his campaign flourished before the election came from a doctor who was also a major Democratic donor,” notes University of Tennessee law professor and pundit Glenn Reynolds in the New York Post.

But Delaware Valley Democrats are standing by the Senator.

Asked if she thinks Fetterman was honest with the voters about his health during the 2022 campaign, Delaware County Democratic Part chair Colleen Guiney responded to DVJournal with a one-word email:
“Yes.”

Developing…

The Delaware Valley Journal provides unbiased, local reporting for the Philadelphia suburbs of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. For more stories from the Delaware Valley Journal, visit DelawareValleyJournal.com