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Fetterman texts reveal impatience with constituent duties
A former staffer confirmed that Sen. John Fetterman has routinely dismissed and at times refused to do core aspects of the job.
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WASHINGTON: Washington, Sen. John Fetterman has appeared uninterested in performing constituent service duties, according to text messages between the Pennsylvania Democrat and his staffers that were obtained by CBS News.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to publish the text messages, and reported that Fetterman has routinely dismissed and at times refused to do core aspects of the job, such as meeting with constituents, holding events in his home state and attending hearings. A former staffer confirmed the accuracy of the Journal's story to CBS News.
In one incident, Fetterman reportedly told people he was sick to avoid meeting with a group of paralyzed military veterans from Pennsylvania. Instead, he appeared on Fox News. Fetterman also dismissed requests to meet with representatives of a children's hospital and to attend the funerals of three slain police officers near his hometown, according to a set of 2025 text exchanges reviewed by CBS News.
The former staffer said of Fetterman: "You can't have any sort of substantial conversation with him about any policy or strategy without it becoming completely derailed or unhinged."
In a series of texts reviewed by CBS News, Fetterman asked one staffer why he had to keep meeting with people from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
"Because they are worried about vaccines and Medicaid cuts," the staffer responded.
"Well I'm not," Fetterman said, later adding, "I'm convinced they just want free trips to DC."
This Bay News report is based on originating coverage from CBS.