Credit: PA Internet News Service
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, who represents Pennsylvania, is receiving voluntary inpatient care for depression, according to his office.
The news came Thursday afternoon in a press release and follows a hospitalization in Washington D.C. last week after a spell of lightheadedness.
Below is the statement from Fetterman’s Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson:
“Last night, Senator John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to receive treatment for clinical depression. While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks.
“On Monday, John was evaluated by Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress. Yesterday, Dr. Monahan recommended inpatient care at Walter Reed. John agreed, and he is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis.
“After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself.”
Fetterman, a Democrat who took office early last month after serving as Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, suffered a stroke last year and has been recovering his auditory processing ability since.
“After what he’s been through in the past year, there’s probably no one who wanted to talk about his own health less than John. I’m so proud of him for asking for help and getting the care he needs,” Fetterman’s wife, Gisele, shared on Twitter.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
The former second lady of Pennsylvania said the couple’s “kids come first.”
“Take care of yourselves. Hold your loved ones close, you are not alone,” she added.
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.
It is not clear how long Fetterman will remain in inpatient care at the military hospital.
Bob Casey, a Democrat and the other senator from the state, is currently being treated for prostate cancer. He continues to work.
