Sen. John Fetterman denies staff allegations of neglect and calls report a smear campaign
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Senator John Fetterman dismissed accusations from former aides that he avoided meetings and showed indifference to his duties, labeling the Wall Street Journal report as a smear by disgruntled staff.
Senator John Fetterman responded on Saturday to a Wall Street Journal report that quoted former staff members accusing him of skipping constituent meetings and showing a lack of interest in his Senate work. The Pennsylvania Democrat called the story a "hit piece" by "disgruntled staffers" and said the leaked texts were taken out of context.
"Per usual — lies, half-truths, innuendos, smears and anonymous," Fetterman said in a statement to CNN, adding that he remains proud to serve Pennsylvania despite the allegations.
The newspaper cited several text messages, including one in which Fetterman asked why he had to meet with officials from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, replying, "Well, I’m not." He later described the comment as a "dumb joke" and apologized, noting that he has met hospital officials both virtually and in person.
Another excerpt showed the senator expressing frustration about the length of a funeral for three police officers killed near his hometown, writing, "This may be a nonstarter." Fetterman said he ordered flowers for the families and later attended a fundraiser for them, posting his condolences on social media.
The report also claimed Fetterman missed a meeting with three paralyzed veterans, citing a staff message that he was ill. He explained that he was vomiting at home, asked staff to continue the meeting, and later felt well enough to resume his schedule, including an interview on Fox News.
The allegations follow earlier reports, including a 2024 letter from former chief of staff Adam Jentleson that raised concerns about Fetterman's behavior and mental health after a 2023 hospitalization for depression. Fetterman has previously dismissed similar criticism as coming from staff with a "weird grudge."