John Fetterman blames DR OZ for his depression and ‘brutal’ 2022 campaign as he dismisses questions about his health and insists he’s ‘damn’ fit to work
- Senator Fetterman insists he is fit to serve in Congress while recovering from his depression
- He blames the mental health decline on the “cruel” 2022 campaign
- Fetterman suffered a stroke during his successful tenure and just a month after being sworn in, he checked himself in for inpatient care at Walter Reed
John Fetterman blamed his mental health decline on the “brutal” campaign against Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2022 and assured he is fit to serve while recovering from hospitalization for depression.
The Pennsylvania senator told KDKA-TV in an interview on Tuesday that he feels “great” as Fetterman continues to receive questions about his health.
Fetterman was elected shortly after suffering a stroke in 2021, which he insisted did not affect his ability to be a senator while affecting his audio comprehension. During an interview, he admitted that he had to use real-time transcription programs to make sure he fully understood the questions he was being asked.
Just a month after taking office, Fetterman voluntarily admitted himself to Walter Reed Medical Center to be treated for depression.
“I honestly feel great,” Fetterman said after his first week back in Washington, DC. “A lot of people have asked, ‘Hey, how are you feeling? How’s your depression?’ Again, it’s in remission and I’m just so thankful that I feel good.”
Senator John Fetterman said ‘damn, yes’ he is fit to serve in Congress as he recovers from his hospitalization for clinical depression
The Pennsylvania Democrat blamed his depression on the Senate’s 2022 “brutal” and “cruel” campaign against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz. Pictured: Fetterman holds his hands to his heart as he returns to the Capitol for work on Monday, April 17 in a hoodie after being treated for depression
Critics were highly critical of Fetterman, claiming it was clear he was medically unfit to serve in the Senate after suffering his stroke. Those claims only got worse after Fetterman went to the hospital.
Pennsylvania Republicans argue that he has failed to fulfill his duties as a senator and must resign or be replaced.
The Democratic legislature alleges attacks on him during the 2022 senate campaign contributed to his decline and led to his hospital stay.
“It was after the brutality of the campaign,” Fetterman said of the beginning of his depression. “Some people believe it was one of the most brutal political campaigns.”
According to OpenSecrets, outside groups aired $84 million in attack ads against Fetterman in his campaign against Republican Dr. Oz, who had the backing of former President Donald Trump.
Fetterman assured that despite being hospitalized for depression, he is fully able to serve in Congress while he recovers.
“Hell, yes, and that’s why I’m doing it,” Fetterman told KDKA-TV. “Just like all Pennsylvanians work is that you take a day and a day and work hard, which is exactly what I’ve done here.”
After a successful Senate campaign last year and after being sworn in in January, Fetterman reported to the military hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, to be treated for clinical depression just a month after taking office.
He was fired from Walter Reed in late March and returned to work at the Capitol when Congress returned from a two-week hiatus in April.