The news of John Fetterman returning to the U.S. Senate after battling with depression has caught many people’s attention. However, some have begun to question whether Fetterman is fit to serve in this position after he avoided answering critical questions from a reporter in Washington D.C. The recent incident has raised concerns among the public, leaving many speculating about the Senator’s future.
John Fetterman returned to the U.S. Capitol Monday afternoon after being hospitalized twice during most of his first several weeks in the U.S. Senate.
While he was walking into the Capitol, Fetterman was confronted by reporters, with one asking if he expected to be able to serve his full six-year term:
Fetterman ignored the question, and instead said “It’s great to be back. Thank you.”
After an extended stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for clinical depression, Fetterman was discharged on March 31. As a result of experiencing depression “off and on throughout his life,” the senator entered the hospital on Feb. 16.
In March 2022, on the eve of the Democratic primary, the first-term senator suffered a stroke. While Fetterman missed several months of campaigning, his wife Gisele and fellow Democratic Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey served as surrogates.
Although Fetterman and his team deny any connection between stroke and depression, many doctors consider depression to be a common stroke after-effect.
His stroke has, however, caused him to have cognitive issues, including a problem with auditory processing. He uses a closed captioning device to type out what is being said to him so that he can have conversations with other members of Congress.
As an elected official, it is reasonable to expect Senator Fetterman to be accountable to his constituents and the press. By avoiding questions from the media, he has raised doubts about his transparency and ability to serve in a public office. It is essential for elected officials to be open and accessible to the press and the public they serve. Fetterman’s avoidance of critical questions has left many wondering if he can fulfill this vital responsibility. Only time will tell if Senator Fetterman will rise to the occasion and demonstrate his fitness to serve, but so far, he hasn’t.
