Dem Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania’s office has been criticized for doctoring transcripts

Democratic Senator John Fetterman’s office has been accused of smoothing transcripts of his congressional appearances to hide the stroke victim’s difficulty verbalizing himself.

During a session on the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank Tuesday, Fetterman was filmed saying, “The Republicans want to give SNAP a work demand. You know, for a uh, uh, uh, hungry family must have this kind of punishment, or these kind of words – work uh, require – Shouldn’t you have a work requirement, after we reach your bank, billions from your bank?’ , said the liberal senator during the session.

“Because it seems like we were on, uh when, then SNAP requirements for working, for hungry people, but not about protecting the tax, the tax papers, you know, that’s going to save them from whatever to get a bank crash,” he continued in the verbatim transcript.

But a release of Fetterman’s comments his office later shared with Washington Post reporter Jeff Stein was markedly different.

“Shouldn’t you have a work commitment after we bail out your bank?” Republicans seem more concerned with SNAP requirements for hungry people than with protecting taxpayers who are supposed to bail out these banks,” said the “official” version released by Fetterman’s office.

a Fox News digital review showed Tuesday’s incident wasn’t the only time the released transcripts didn’t match the recordings of him actually speaking. Transcripts later released by his agency revealed a clean, coherent version of his comments.

Fetterman, who suffered a stroke a year ago, only recently returned to Congress after being hospitalized with depression. But his health is questioned as he continues to struggle with cognitive problems during Senate hearings.

The most recent ordeal came to light this week when Washington Post economics reporter Jeff Stein tweeted what Fetterman had asked ex-CEO Greg Becker of Silicon Valley Bank.

“Shouldn’t you have a work commitment after we bail out your bank?” Republicans seem more concerned with SNAP requirements for hungry people than with protecting taxpayers bailing out these banks.”

He later deleted the tweet, admitting to getting the sanitized quote from Fetterman’s office.

“That was my fault,” Stein wrote. “While it stated its intent, I deleted the tweet when some words in the quote didn’t make sense.”

The video of the hearing revealed that the legislator’s words were more confused as he tripped over himself and muttered various ums and other filler words.

Conservatives suggested Fetterman was unable to serve in Washington after witnessing his attempt to grill Silicon Valley Bank CEO Greg Becker

A Fox News Digital review showed Tuesday’s incident wasn’t the only time the released transcripts didn’t match the recordings of him actually speaking

When Fox News Digital conducted a review, they reported that his office had changed his comments other times since his return in April.

After his hearing on April 26, his office posted a transcript on the website.

“I am very excited about Whole-Home Repairs. Here in Pennsylvania, one of my friends, Nikil Saval in the Senate, led it. And he got in touch with the Republicans and they actually created one of the first kinds of a program like this in the nation.

“I come from a community here in Braddock, Pennsylvania, where your house can break down very quickly. And I’m really excited that we can take something like that, what’s happening in Pennsylvania, and take it federally.”

But the taped version of the Fetterman’s comments was different from what the office had posted.

“I’m really excited about it because actually one of my friends here in Pennsylvania [inaudible] it, Nikil Saval, he was one of the literally — quite literally — as hard left as any politician I know — you know — definitely in the Senate,” says Fetterman. “Um, he really helped that. And he got in touch with the Republicans, and he actually created the first kind of program like this in the nation, you know. And one of my colleagues, Mr. Vance, got it right about if there’s a leak in the ceiling, what if you don’t have the money to fix that? What can happen to that, sort of thing?

“I’m from a community in Braddock, Pennsylvania, where a lot of — your house can break down fast if you have that kind — so I’m a big — you know — I’m incredible, I think” I’m excited it would be from Pennsylvania could come and become federal.”

In mid-April, Fetterman returned to Washington after spending nearly two months at Walter Reed Military Hospital where he was treated for clinical depression.

Fetterman was released from the hospital in late March, but went home to Pennsylvania as the Senate went on a two-week spring break.

He checked in with Walter Reed that day after weeks of what aides described as Fetterman withdrawn and uninterested in eating, discussing work, or the usual chit-chat with staff.

At the time, Fetterman had barely been employed in Washington for a month and was recovering from the aftereffects of the stroke he suffered last May. He went to Walter Reed on the advice of the Capitol physician, Dr. Brian P Monahan.

During his stay, his staff stressed that he was working, kept informed of the matter and in contact with them.

Fetterman refused to answer questions upon his return

Fetterman returned to the Capitol in April after a two-month absence to be treated for depression

Fetterman suffered his stroke in May 2022, days before the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, but he still handily won the race.

The stroke, which nearly killed him, sidelined him for months on the campaign trail in his race against Trump-backed Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former television personality.

The Democrat was able to win the office in part because of some creative trolling from his team’s Oz, as the Republican lived in New Jersey for decades before running Keystone State Senate.

His shaky debate performance — which highlighted his unusual speech patterns and auditory processing difficulties left after the stroke — shocked some Democrats, as it gave Oz a chance to win.

But on election night, the 1 a.m. race was called for Fetterman, and shortly after, Oz relented.