One of John Fetterman’s Closest Friends in the Senate Is ‘Concerned’ about Him

Sen. Peter Welch’s comments follow a New York Magazine piece detailing concerns from Fetterman staffers about the Pennsylvania senator’s mental health and fitness for office.

John Fetterman
Annabelle Gordon/Sipa USA via AP

Democratic Sen. Peter Welch, a close friend of Sen. John Fetterman’s, said Monday that he is “concerned about John.”

Welch’s comments come after New York Magazine published an in-depth report detailing Fetterman’s erratic behavior and health challenges he has faced since he was elected to the Senate in 2022, when he had a stroke in the closing weeks of his campaign. In the story, former and current staffers for the Pennsylvania senator laid out their concerns about Fetterman’s ability to do the job — and for his personal health.

“I want to check in with him this week,” Welch said on Monday evening. “I can’t comment on his medical condition. He’s a close friend, and I think he adds something special to the Democratic caucus. I mean, he’s been through a lot, and what he has to do to maintain his recovery, that’s between him and his doctors. But I’m a friend, and I want to be fully supportive.”