Senator John Fetterman checks himself into Walter Reed Medical Center to treat ‘severe’ depression
Pennsylvania senator suffered a stroke last year
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pennsylvania’s new senator checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in order to receive treatment for “severe” clinical depression, his office said on Thursday.
John Fetterman has experienced periods of depression throughout his life, the statement continued, which added that he was receiving treatment.
“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,” his office said.
The senator “will soon be back to himself”, the statement concluded.
Mr Fetterman suffered a stroke last year and was voluntarily hospitalised after feeling lightheaded earlier this month.
According to his statement, this most recent hospitalisation came at the recommendation of the US Congress’ attending physician earlier this week.
His victory in the Pennsylvania Senate race enraged Republicans who had sought to make his mental capacities a campaign issue in the waning days of the race. Coverage of accessibility options that Mr Fetterman has taken advantage of upon assuming his office has only reignited the criticism of his ability to legislate on the right, while disability advocates have said that the tone and tenor of the coverage itself reveals an ableist bias in the Washington press.
Mr Fetterman’s opponent in the 2022 midterms was Dr Mehmet Oz, a celebrity TV doctor whose campaign was endorsed during the primary by Donald Trump. Dr Oz muddled through a lackluster campaign trail performance throughout the summer, making increasingly awkward and ugly attacks through spokespersons aimed at his opponent’s mental faculties, which failed to resonate with voters.
His victory, alongside that of incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock in Georgia, was credited with delivering Democrats an expanded majority in the US Senate this term; Republicans had initially gone in to November’s midterms hoping to capture both chambers of the Congress and instead only saw their party attain a single-digit majority in the lower House.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments