Fetterman Faces Calls to Resign After Report Alleges Neglect of Senate Duties
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is facing renewed calls to resign following a Wall Street Journal report alleging that he has shown little interest in the day-to-day responsibilities of his office. The report, published Friday, cites a former staffer and claims the Democratic senator has avoided constituent meetings, hearings and in-state appearances.
Fetterman, elected in 2022, has not publicly responded to the article. His office did not reply to a request for comment from Newsweek.
What does the Wall Street Journal report allege?
The report outlines several instances in which Fetterman allegedly declined to engage with constituents or attend local events. Newsweek has not independently verified these claims.
Dismissed concerns from children's hospital
Text messages reported by the newspaper show Fetterman asking an aide why he needed to keep meeting with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. When the aide explained that hospital officials were concerned about vaccines and Medicaid cuts, the senator allegedly replied, “Well I'm not.” He also wrote that he was “convinced they just want free trips to DC.”
Declined to meet with Philadelphia constituents
State legislator Anthony Hardy Williams told the newspaper that he brought constituents from a flood-prone Philadelphia neighbourhood to Washington to meet their representatives. Fetterman was the only one who declined.
“He was available. He just chose not to meet with us,” Williams said.
Skipped funeral for fallen police officers
The report also alleges that Fetterman described a three-hour funeral for three police officers killed near York last September as a “nonstarter” in text messages.
Why are Democrats calling for his resignation?
Former Representative Conor Lamb, who ran against Fetterman in the 2022 Democratic primary, urged him to leave office in a post on X.
“John, if there is a decent bone left in your body, just quit. It's an insult to decent people in our state for you to treat them and the office this way,” Lamb wrote.
Representative Brendan Boyle called Fetterman “a disgrace” and “a lazy trust fund baby.” Representative Chris Deluzio said Fetterman is “not up for the high office he was elected to” and that Pennsylvania voters would “do something about it in 2028.”
Democratic strategist Mike Nellis wrote that Fetterman is “a broken, sad man who doesn't do his job.” Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, now an independent, also suggested the senator should resign, saying, “He's not well. He needs help.”
What do the polls show about Fetterman's support?
A Quinnipiac University poll of 895 registered voters, conducted July 9 to 13, found that 69 percent of Pennsylvania Democrats disapprove of Fetterman, while only 19 percent approve. Among Republicans, 77 percent approve of the Democratic senator.
Overall, Fetterman's approval rating stands at 48 percent, with 41 percent disapproving. However, 57 percent of Democrats said they would like to see him leave the party.
A separate poll by The New York Times and Siena University found that only 20 percent of Democrats view Fetterman favourably, while 79 percent of Republicans and 54 percent of independents do. Two-thirds of Democrats said they believe he supports former President Donald Trump too much.
Has Fetterman denied plans to switch parties?
Despite speculation, Fetterman has repeatedly said he has no intention of leaving the Democratic Party. He told The New York Times in May that he has “no plans” to switch.
“I remain strongly pro-choice, pro-weed, pro-LGBT, pro-SNAP, pro-labor and even pro-rib-eye over bio slop. I refuse to cave on my conscience because Pennsylvania deserves someone who is honest and can work across the aisle,” he said.
Fetterman has also positioned himself as a staunch defender of Israel and a critic of socialism within his party. In an August post on X, he wrote: “The Democratic Party is becoming the party of socialism. 58% view socialism positively. 50% view capitalism negatively. I'm a proud free market capitalist. This is lunacy.”
When does Fetterman's term end?
Fetterman's term runs until 2028. He has not announced whether he will seek re-election. Several Democrats, including Deluzio, Boyle and Lamb, have been mentioned as potential primary challengers, though none have confirmed plans to run.
What happens next?
Fetterman remains a key swing vote in the Senate, viewed as its most moderate Democrat. If Democrats narrow the Republican majority in the midterms, his vote could become even more decisive. For now, he has not formally announced his political future.