John Fetterman Denounces Wall Street Journal Report as “Hit Piece” From Disgruntled Staffers

Fetterman Denies ‘Hit Pieces’

Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, blasted a Wall Street Journal report that former staffers and text messages described as evidence of his apathy toward his job, calling it “the third hit piece from disgruntled staffers.”

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

The dispute centers on allegations that Fetterman declined meetings with constituents and skipped events, including a funeral for three police officers who died near his hometown of York.

The Wall Street Journal report also described a text exchange in which Fetterman asked why he had to “keep having to meet” with officials from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, known as CHOP, and a staffer responded, “Because they’re worried about Medicaid cuts.”

Fetterman told CNN that comment was a “dumb joke, and for that, I sincerely apologize,” while also saying his office “always have, and always will, advocate for CHOP, support their requests and any other needs that we can assist with.”

Reporting for this sectionCNN

Text Messages Fuel Rift

The CNN account says former Fetterman staffers created an anonymous account on X and threatened to share further details, while Fetterman’s statement to CNN responded to three leaked text messages described as “stripped of any context and circumstances.” One text message described by The Journal and repeated by CNN has Fetterman asking his staff why he had to “keep having to meet” with CHOP officials, with an aide replying, “Because they’re worried about Medicaid cuts,” and Fetterman responding, “Well, I’m not.” CNN also reported that the Journal said Fetterman skipped a funeral for three police officers killed near York after a text griped at the service’s length, where Fetterman wrote, “This may be a nonstarter.”

In his CNN statement, Fetterman said he took steps to express condolences and meet with the family members affected, including that “we privately ordered flowers to be delivered for their families and expressed my condolences publicly.” The Independent similarly described Fetterman’s response to the profile as a “hit piece” driven by “disgruntled staffers,” and said he told CNN the text messages were “stripped of any context and circumstances.”

Reporting for this sectionCNNThe Independent

Reelection and Party Tensions

Beyond the immediate fight over the Wall Street Journal report, CNN said Fetterman is facing sagging approval ratings within his own party amid battles with the left over Israel, Iran and immigration, while he stares at a potential run for reelection in 2028. CNN reported that Fetterman warned in July he would leave the Democratic Party if it adopts an anti-Israel policy, and it framed that threat as one of his most direct. The Independent also said Fetterman threatened to leave the party if it takes an anti-Israel policy, while the Wall Street Journal report described his energy as devoted to fostering relationships with conservative media and defending Israel.

USA TODAY reported that Fetterman is up for reelection in 2028 and said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, has stood by the Pennsylvania senator as he clashed with fellow Democrats on the Iran war and other issues. In the dispute’s fallout, the anonymous X account created by former staffers promised that the WSJ story was “just the tip of the iceberg,” and said it would post accounts of working for the senator, with a first “drop” on September 14 when the Senate reconvenes.

Reporting for this sectionCNNUSA Today