Republican Senator Mark Wayne Mullin from Oklahoma remarked that Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania appears to be “cognitively better” now than when he first joined the Senate in 2023 after enduring a serious stroke.
“I traveled with John when we both arrived here. He seems more cognitively aware than he did as a newcomer,” Mullin shared with video journalist Nicholas Barasy.
Mullin, elected in 2022, joined the Senate alongside Fetterman in 2023.
Fetterman had been admitted to Walter Reed Hospital for clinical depression in early 2023. His former staff sent a lengthy email to his doctor in May 2024, expressing concern that he was on a “bad trajectory” and suggesting that he “will not have been with us much longer.”
This email, disclosed in a recent New York magazine article, raised concerns regarding Fetterman’s mental health and cited a former aide’s insights.
Mullin suggested that Democrats might be attempting to tarnish Fetterman’s reputation amid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s unwavering support for the conflict in Gaza.
“It’s amusing, really. If you don’t fully agree with them, they seem intent on erasing you,” Mullin commented.
He self-identified as “not progressive,” taking the opportunity to criticize Fetterman for endorsing Israeli military actions in Gaza while mentioning a prior visit to President Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
“A few years back, Fetterman was viewed as a significant asset to Pennsylvania, but once here, it became clear that he speaks for himself,” Mullin continued. “The Democratic Party appears focused on strict control, and if you stray from that, it’s over for you.”
Fetterman, on his part, labeled the New York magazine piece discussing his mental health challenges as a “hit piece,” stating he has moved on from it.
He accused former staff of harboring “strange grudges” against him.
“It was just a ridiculous attack, and we all need to move forward,” he remarked.
Earlier this month, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York publicly supported Fetterman, calling him a “good legislator.” Schumer affirmed, “He’s doing a good job, and he’s a good senator.”
