(Headline USA) Pennsylvania Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro said he will not ask Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., to resign despite deteriorating mental and physical health.
Fetterman, who suffered a stroke early last year during his campaign for the Senate, was recently checked into the hospital to receive treatment for clinical depression. The news followed reports that Fetterman is still having difficulty comprehending questions, despite the new closed-caption technology that was installed in the Senate to help him.
Shapiro said he has not yet received direct requests from Democrats to call on Fetterman to resign, but “if I did,” he said, “I would dismiss it immediately.”
“He’s going to get the help that he needs and do a great job for the people of Pennsylvania as their senator for a long time,” Shapiro added, predicting that Fetterman will “come back stronger than ever.”
Fetterman’s team has tried to downplay the significance of his health issues, even though one staffer admitted that Fetterman’s decision to continue campaigning last year after his stroke has made a full recovery impossible.
“While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks,” Adam Jentleson, Fetterman’s chief of staff, said. “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.”
Several other Democrats have rallied around Fetterman.
“I stand by John Fetterman and his family. This a challenge, an unimaginable challenge, that he has faced in life,” said Senate Democrat Whip Dick Durbin. “He deserves the very best in professional care and I’m sure he’ll get it at Walter Reed.”
Durbin said he believed Fetterman will be able to serve a full term of office, reported The Hill.
“I believe with the proper care, which he will receive, that he’ll be back in our ranks, joining us soon,” Durbin said.
