A stunning report from the Murdoch empire’s Wall Street Journal blasts Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman as uninterested in his job as a senator, ignoring his constituents, and preferring to promote his support for Israel on Fox News.
Citing dozens of former staffers and lawmakers, the Journal said Fetterman “shows little interest in doing the job beyond cultivating relationships with conservative media figures and advocating for Israel.”
The report highlighted several instances of Fetterman snubbing his constituents.
- One example, according to staffers, was Fetterman grumbling about having to meet with officials from the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP) who wanted to meet with the senator about medicaid cuts. Texts reviewed by the WSJ show Fetterman stating that “they just want free trips to DC.”
- As another example, Fetterman canceled on three paralyzed military veterans in wheelchairs who had traveled to D.C. to meet with him over legislation to improve veteran care. He asked staffers to tell the veterans he was not feeling well, then went on to an interview with Fox News an hour later.
- Last September, Fetterman refused to attend a funeral for three police officers that would last three hours. The officers were from his hometown.
Fetterman also finds disdain for his basic duties of a senator, including making in-state appearances or attending hearings.
Last year, Fetterman did not attend 11 of the 12 full Senate hearings held by his assigned committees on Homeland Security, Commerce and Agriculture.
Nor was Fetterman interested in meetings with fellow Democratic senators by phone call, as Fetterman dismissed one called by Minority Leader Schumer by telling staffers, “I truly don’t care.”
Fetterman’s obsession with defending Israel led to staffers saving his ass from violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Last September an Israeli ambassador asked Fetterman to write an opinion piece explaining his support for Israel. The ambassador’s staff sent over a list of talking points in a draft, wanting his name on the piece. Fetterman’s staff did not hand over the notes, believing that having the senator write an opinion piece under Israel’s guidance could violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Daily Beast, Mediaite, Alter Net