Pictures of Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center were released by his office on Monday, with an aide saying he “will be back soon" in the first update on his condition nearly three weeks after he checked himself into the hospital to receive treatment for his clinical depression.
In the photos, Fetterman and his chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, are sitting at a table in a hospital room, looking over documents.
FETTERMAN AND FEINSTEIN ABSENCES LEAVE SENATE DEMOCRATS WITHOUT OUTRIGHT MAJORITY
Productive morning with Senator Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing the rail safety legislation, Farm Bill and other Senate business. John is well on his way to recovery and wanted me to say how grateful he is for all the well wishes. He’s laser focused on PA & will be back soon. pic.twitter.com/143uAhoQRx
— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) March 6, 2023
“Productive morning with Senator Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing the rail safety legislation, Farm Bill and other Senate business,” Jentleson tweeted. “John is well on his way to recovery and wanted me to say how grateful he is for all the well wishes. He’s laser focused on PA & will be back soon.”
The senator checked himself into Walter Reed on Feb. 15 to receive treatment for clinical depression. He has been hospitalized ever since without any updates as to when he will be able to return to the Senate.
In a tweet, the senator’s wife said her husband “continues to challenge the conversation” after “society’s expectations and traditional gender roles play a part in why men are less likely to discuss or seek help for their mental health.”
Society's expectations and traditional gender roles play a part in why men are less likely to discuss or seek help for their mental health. As always, John continues to challenge the conversation. So human, so kind, so cute. ????❤️ https://t.co/WLJMRsqvrk
— Gisele Barreto Fetterman (@giselefetterman) March 6, 2023
Fetterman, 53, had a stroke in May right after winning the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania’s Senate race. The stroke sidelined Fetterman from the campaign for a couple of months and caused an auditory processing disorder, which affected his hearing.
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Fetterman resumed campaigning in mid-August. Last month, he was hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital for lightheadedness.
Democrats have lacked an outright majority this week in the Senate as a result of Fetterman’s temporary absence in addition to the absence of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who has been hospitalized with shingles since last week. The temporary absences complicate Democrats' ability to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees and legislative agenda.