Fetterman texts reveal impatience with constituent duties

Sen. John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania Democrat, has been found to have an apparent lack of interest in fulfilling his constituent service duties, as indicated by text messages obtained by CBS News. CBS News and The Wall Street Journal both reported on these messages, with The Wall Street Journal being the first to publish the content. The source of the messages was a former staffer who confirmed the accuracy of the report to CBS News.

One instance cited in the texts involved Fetterman dismissing a meeting with a group of paralyzed military veterans from Pennsylvania. Instead of attending the meeting, Fetterman appeared on Fox News. The staffer revealed that Fetterman had told them he was sick to avoid the meeting. Another incident involved Fetterman refusing to meet with representatives of a children's hospital and attending the funerals of three slain police officers near his hometown due to the length of the ceremony.

According to the text exchanges reviewed by CBS News, Fetterman questioned the necessity of meeting with representatives from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, stating that they were only looking for free trips to DC. When three police officers were killed near York, Pennsylvania, last year, Fetterman declined to attend their funerals due to the lengthy ceremony.

A staffer noted that the funeral began at noon and lasted at least three hours, and mentioned that Pennsylvania's other senator, Republican Sen. Dave McCormick, was also not planning to attend. Fetterman agreed, noting the formal nature of the ceremony and the approximate nine-hour drive required.

The alleged insensitivity towards constituent duties has not gone unnoticed by Fetterman's political opponents. Democratic Reps. Chris Deluzio and Brendan Boyle, both from Pennsylvania, harshly criticized Fetterman's behavior, accusing him of laziness, disrespect, and lack of duty. Deluzio specifically mentioned Fetterman's willingness to support a foreign government, while Boyle called him a "disgrace" and a "lazy trust fund baby."

The story highlights Fetterman's tensions within his own party, as he has also taken actions that have put him at odds with his Democratic colleagues.