Senator John Fetterman Denounces Wall Street Journal Report as ‘Hit Piece’, Calling Allegations Misleading

Topline

Senator John Fetterman (D‑PA) has dismissed a recent Wall Street Journal investigation as a “hit piece” from disgruntled staff, calling the report’s claims “lies, half truths, innuendoes, smears and anonymous” in comments to CNN.

Key Facts

Fetterman told CNN that the Journal’s citations were taken “out of context and circumstances.”

The Journal reported that Fetterman dismissed a meeting with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia officials as a “dumb joke.” He later apologized and noted that he has met publicly with the hospital’s representatives.

According to the Journal, Fetterman withdrew from a three‑hour‑long funeral for three York County police officers. He responded by sending flowers to the families, posting condolences on social media, and later meeting with them at a fundraiser earlier this year, his office said.

Staffers raised concerns after Fetterman canceled a health‑care meeting with paralyzed veterans, citing illness. He later appeared for a Fox News interview on Israel and Iran less than an hour later. Fetterman maintained he had intended to meet the veterans but was “at home throwing up,” and returned to work hours later once he “felt well enough to continue the day as scheduled.”

Fetterman did not address all of the allegations in the article, and his office declined to comment further on the matter.

CRUCIAL QUOTE

“No matter how many smears or stories, I’m proud to continue to deliver for Pennsylvania,” the senator said in a statement to CNN.

What Else Did The Wall Street Journal Report Allege?

The Journal also cited claims that Fetterman declined to meet with Philadelphia flood‑prone area residents who traveled to Washington with state Senator Anthony Hardy Williams to discuss federal grant cuts. Williams said, “He was available. He just chose not to meet with us,” adding that Fetterman saw them in the halls but ignored them. Fetterman did not comment on an allegation that he refused a meeting with state Representative Liz Hanbidge regarding homelessness, while he did meet with former Auburn basketball coach and Israel advocate Bruce Pearl on the same day.

Key Background

John Fetterman, a former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 and assumed office the following year. He has gained attention for diverging from his party’s stance on cultural issues and for his strong support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Fetterman has on several occasions broken ranks with Democrats, voting with Republicans—including opposing a measure to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct the Iran war under the War Powers Act. Since his 2022 campaign, Fetterman has confronted significant health challenges: he suffered a stroke during the campaign and received treatment for clinical depression at Walter Reed in 2023. Former staffers, notably chief of staff Adam Jentleson, have voiced concerns about his behavior and mental health, while Fetterman has consistently denied allegations made by Jentleson and others, including those reported in a 2023 New York magazine exposé.

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