John Fetterman to return to the Senate week of April 17

Senator John Fetterman will return to the Senate next month after more than a month of inpatient treatment for depression at Walter Reed hospital, according to a report on Wednesday.

Fetterman plans to return to the Senate the week of April 17, two people with direct knowledge of his plans told Politico.

The Senate is scheduled to be in recess for the first two weeks of April. and senators will return to Washington in the middle of the month. 

Democrats will likely welcome their colleague back with open arms, as the party has a slim majority in the upper chamber and has struggled with absences from their senators. 

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California is being treated for shingles, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon took time off after the death of his mother.

Vice President Kamala Harris had to cast several tie-breaking votes as the President of the Senate during the absences. 

The Democratic senator from Pennsylvania began receiving treatment for depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on February 16. His office posted updates and photos of him working from there, saying he was staying engaged with the business of the country.

In early March the public had its first sighing of Fetterman when his staff posted an update on Twitter.

‘Productive morning with Senator Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing the rail safety legislation, Farm Bill and other Senate business,’ chief of staff Adam Jentleson wrote in a tweet along with photos of him and Fetterman looking over documents. 

‘John is well on his way to recovery and wanted me to say how grateful he is for all the well wishes. He’s laser focused on PA & will be back soon.’

While in the hospital in early February, Fetterman signed onto bipartisan rail safety legislation introduced after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. A member of the Agriculture Committee, the senator also has a hand drafting the farm bill Congress votes on every five years. 

Fetterman, 53, sought in-patient treatment for ‘severe’ depression after being hospitalized for dizziness after the State of the Union on February 7. He is still recovering from a stroke on the campaign trail in May.

The Pennsylvania Democrat entered Walter Reed Medical Center on February 16, leaving him absent on crucial Senate votes, but his staff says they have been in contact with him regularly on work matters. Pictured: Fetterman with his chief of staff, Adam Jentleson

‘Productive morning with Senator Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing the rail safety legislation, Farm Bill and other Senate business,’ chief of staff Adam Jentleson wrote in a tweet along with photos of him and the senator

His wife, Gisele, posted on Twitter in response to the photos: ‘Society’s expectations and traditional gender roles play a part in why men are less likely to discuss or seek help for their mental health. As always, John continues to challenge the conversation. So human, so kind, so cute.’   

Last week Donald Trump Jr. lobbed a cruel attack at the Democrat at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), calling him a ‘vegetable’ and saying he would be better employed as a ‘bag guy’ at a grocery store than a U.S. senator. 

During his stroke recovery, Fetterman struggled with sensory processing issues, and relied on simultaneous translation computer software in media interviews and to do his Senate duties.

A senior aide told NBC that it has been challenging to differentiate between the senator’s stroke recovery and the depression, with the staffer saying it’s sometimes unclear if he’s ‘not hearing you, or is he sort of crippled by his depression and social anxiety.’

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and wife Gisele, on Election Day, November 8, 2022.