John Fetterman first seen in hospital during depression treatment

The public has seen Senator John Fetterman for the first time since he checked himself into the hospital for clinical depression in photos posted Monday by his chief of staff.

The Pennsylvania Democrat entered Walter Reed Medical Center 18 days ago on Feb. 16, causing him to be absent from crucial Senate votes, but his staff says they have been in regular contact with him on employment matters.

“Productive morning with Senator Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing railroad safety legislation, Farm Bill and other Senate matters,” Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson wrote in a tweet along with photos of him and Fetterman reviewing documents.

“John is well on his way to recovery and wanted me to say how grateful he is for all the well wishes. He is focused on PA and will be back soon.”

The Pennsylvania Democrat entered Walter Reed Medical Center on Feb. 16, making him absent from crucial Senate votes, but his staff says they’ve been in regular contact with him about employment matters

“Productive morning with Senator Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing railroad safety legislation, Farm Bill and other Senate matters,” Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson wrote in a tweet along with photos of him and the Senator

Fetterman signed into law the bipartisan railway safety legislation introduced after the train derailment in eastern Palestine while he was hospitalized. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, the Senator also has a hand in drafting the Agriculture Act that Congress votes on every five years.

Fetterman, 53, sought inpatient treatment for “severe” depression after being hospitalized for dizziness after the State of the Union speech and suffering a stroke on the campaign trail in May.

Last week, Donald Trump Jr. attacked the Democrat at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), calling him a “vegetable” and saying he would be better off working as a “bag guy” at a grocery store than as a a US senator.

Meanwhile, Gisele, Fetterman’s wife, posted on social media on Feb. 27 that she had taken their three children on an impromptu trip to Niagara Falls while learning how the new media presence outside their Braddock, Pennsylvania, home, had to ‘navigate’.

“I’m not exactly sure how to navigate this journey, but I’m slowly figuring it out. A week ago today when the news broke the kids were out of school and media trucks circled our house,” she tweeted.

“I did the first thing I could think of… put them in the car and drive,” she wrote after it was revealed that her husband could spend weeks in the hospital while doctors worked on treatment and medication.

During his recovery, Fetterman struggled with sensory processing issues and relies on simultaneous interpretation of computer software in media interviews and to perform his Senate duties.

A senior aide told NBC it was challenging to distinguish between the senator’s stroke recovery and the depression, with the aide saying it’s sometimes unclear if he “doesn’t hear you,” or if he’s a little crippled. is because of his depression and social anxiety.

Democrats control the upper chamber 51-49.

Fetterman isn’t the only senator on personal leave. Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, is being treated for shingles, Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, is home after his mother’s death, and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, is recovering from COVID. They all missed votes in the Senate last week, leaving the Senate tied 48-48. Vice President Kamala Harris had to cast some deciding votes.