U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, has again found himself in the news for the wrong reasons, with recent stories calling his mental health into question.
Fetterman, the former Braddock mayor and Pennsylvania lieutenant governor who was once considered a rising progressive star, has faced his share of bad press over the past year.
Here’s a look at some of the stories that have caused a stir:
At fault in high-speed crash
Last June, Fetterman was speeding when he crashed into the back of another vehicle on a Maryland interstate, according to a police report obtained by TribLive.
Police said Fetterman had been traveling “at a high rate of speed, well over the posted (70 mph) speed limit” and was at fault in the crash.
Fetterman, his wife Gisele and the driver of the other vehicle were taken to War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley, W.Va.
Jennifer Campbell, 62, the other driver, spoke out after the crash.
“I think it’s important to recognize that I’m a real human being, and this crash left me with real injuries,” she said in a statement to the Baltimore Sun reported.
Prior to the crash, Fetterman had a history of speeding and distracted driving, according to the Washington Post.
Mar-a-Lago meeting
In January, Fetterman became the first Senate Democrat to meet with President Trump following the election — at Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Fetterman has shown an openness and warmth toward the president, complimenting his political appeal and agreeing with him on some policies, The Associated Press reported.
“I’m the senator for all Pennsylvanians — not just Democrats in Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said after receiving Trump’s invitation to meet. “I’ve been clear that no one is my gatekeeper. I will meet with and have a conversation with anyone if it helps me deliver for Pennsylvania and the nation.”
Trump called Fetterman “impressive” and “fascinating” after the meeting, according to the Washington Examiner.
“It was a totally fascinating meeting. He’s a fascinating man, and his wife is lovely,” Trump said. “He’s a commonsense person. He’s not liberal or conservative. He’s just a commonsense person, which is beautiful.”
Fetterman has also voted to confirm 10 of Trump’s Cabinet nominees, tied for the most among Senate Democrats, records show. He was the only Democrat to vote to confirm Pam Bondi as U.S. Attorney General.
The Mar-a-Lago meeting and Fetterman’s openness to working with Trump on certain issues has drawn backlash from some in his own party.
Concerns about mental, physical health
This month, Fetterman was the subject of a New York Magazine article detailing concerns about his ability to serve in office.
The article reported that some current and former staffers are concerned about his mental and physical health. Fetterman suffered a stroke during his 2022 Senate campaign and then was treated for clinical depression.
Fetterman has vowed to serve his full term, which ends in January 2029, Politico reported.
After the magazine article was published, Fetterman told CNN it was “a one-source hit piece, and it involved maybe two or three anonymous, disgruntled staffers saying just absolute false things.” He denied missing medical check-ups or doses of medication.
‘Why does everyone hate me?’
The AP reported that Fetterman had an outburst during a meeting with representatives from a teachers’ union from Pennsylvania
Before long, the AP said, Fetterman began repeating himself, shouting and questioning why “everybody is mad at me,” “why does everyone hate me, what did I ever do” and slamming his hands on a desk, according to one person who was briefed on what occurred.
A staff member ended the meeting and ushered the visitors into a hallway, where she broke down crying. The staffer was comforted by the teachers who were themselves rattled by Fetterman’s behavior, according to a second person who was briefed separately on the meeting, the AP said.
The incident happened a day before the New York Magazine article came out.