(Headline USA) The Senate installed new technology this month to aid cognitively impaired Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who has struggled to put together coherent sentences and follow questions he’s asked since suffering a stroke early last year.
The closed-caption technology allows Fetterman to read typed closed-captions as individuals speak. It has been installed in the Senate chamber and in Fetterman’s office, according to Fox News.
The technology will also assist Fetterman if he delivers speeches on the floor, which has strict rules prohibiting the use of other technologies, including cell phones.
Fetterman has not released his full medical records since his stroke, which had him in the hospital for several weeks. His limited public appearances on the campaign trail, however, made it clear Fetterman struggled to speak clearly and process questions.
Even when using closed-caption technology on the debate stage against Republican opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz, Fetterman could barely communicate.
An adviser for Fetterman warned the press back in November that Fetterman would not be able to answer questions normally.
“Two things we need to get out of the way,” Rebecca Katz wrote on Twitter, “1) John Fetterman has a suit and will wear it to the Capitol. 2) He is still recovering from a stroke and has lingering auditory processing challenges. The way Hill reporters are used to yelling questions at Senators will not work here.”
Conservative commentator Derek Hunter joked that Fetterman’s wife, Gisele, will end up doing his job for him.
“All questions are to be written down & submitted in advance. They will be returned once his wife has had time to answer them. No way @giselefetterman doesn’t end up on the Senate payroll. When you’re doing all the work, and in on the scam, you milk it for all the money possible,” he tweeted.
