The chief spokesperson for U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said Monday his boss is on the “path to recovery” as he battles depression.
Earlier this month, Fetterman, a Democrat who represents Pennsylvania, entered voluntary inpatient care for depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Fetterman suffered a serious stroke last year and entered the U.S. Senate in January.
Below is Monday afternoon’s statement from Joe Calvello, Fetterman’s communications director:
“We don’t have a lot to update folks with since there’s no real news to report except that John is doing well, working with the wonderful doctors, and remains on a path to recovery.
“He is visiting with staff and family daily, and his staff are keeping him updated on Senate business and news.
“Our team is moving full speed ahead and working tirelessly for the people of Pennsylvania. Just last week we opened a new office in Erie and will be opening several more offices in the coming weeks.
“We understand the intense interest in John’s status and especially appreciate the flood of well-wishes. However, as we have said this will be a weeks-long process and while we will be sure to keep folks updated as it progresses, this is all there is to give by way of an update.”
There has been significant media and political focus on Fetterman’s health and recovery from his stroke since he was elected to the U.S. Senate in November. That has only intensified after a recent hospital stay for dizziness and since he began care for depression.
Gisele Fetterman, the senator’s wife, said last week that she and the couple’s kids took a trip to Niagara Falls in Canada to escape the media coverage of her husband’s hospital stay.
She noted she’s “not really sure how to navigate this journey but I am figuring it out slowly.”
Gisele Fetterman said on Twitter that she talked to the kids “about lots of hard things and how we will all have to face hard things.”
She appeared to then share an image from the town near Washington D.C. where he husband is being treated.