‘Lies, Half-Truths, Innuendos, Smears!’ Fetterman Rips Viral WSJ ‘Hit Piece’ — Blames ‘Disgruntled Staffers’

(J. Scott Applewhite/AP photo)

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is speaking out about the viral Wall Street Journal piece detailing explosive allegations about routinely ducking constituents and skipping Senate business.

In a statement to CNN, Fetterman denounced the WSJ article as a “hit piece from disgruntled staffers”

“Per usual — lies, half-truths, innuendos, smears and anonymous,” Fetterman said. He added, “No matter how many smears or stories, I’m proud to continue to deliver for Pennsylvania.”

The Pennsylvania senator specifically addressed several of the allegations in the piece — including his grousing at the planned length of a funeral for three slain police officers. After being told that the service was slated to last for three hours, text message screenshots posted by the Journal showed Fetterman saying “this may be a nonstarter.”

Fetterman told CNN he expressed his sympathies in other ways.

“On the day of that tragedy, we privately ordered flowers to be delivered for their families and expressed my condolences publicly,” he told CNN. “In June of this year, I privately attended a Tunnel to Towers fundraiser in York for the families. I met with their chief and the family members directly to express my personal condolences.”

The senator also addressed another controversial incident published in the article. From CNN’s Manu Raju:

“Fetterman, according to The Journal, also skipped a planned meeting with three paralyzed Pennsylvania veterans to discuss healthcare legislation. The paper reported that after Fetterman’s staff told the veterans he wasn’t feeling well, he showed up about an hour later in his office appearing fine and then conducted an interview on Fox News.

“’It was my intention to meet with the group,’ Fetterman said in the statement to CNN. ‘Prior to the meeting I was at home throwing up, so I asked my staff to continue with the meeting which they did. Hours later, I felt well enough to continue the day as scheduled.'”

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