Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania returned to the Senate on Monday, following a six-week stay in the hospital where he was receiving treatment for clinical depression. The senator entered the Capitol wearing a black hoodie and shorts and refused to take any questions from the press.

Fetterman’s return to the Senate comes as he prepares to chair his first subcommittee hearing, just days after returning from his weeks-long absence.

The senator suffered a stroke in May 2022 while campaigning for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat, which caused him to experience cognitive issues, including problems with auditory processing.

“It’s great to be back. Thank you,” Fetterman reportedly said as he walked into the building.

According to reports, Fetterman was using a closed captioning device that types out what is being said to him, allowing him to have conversations with other members of Congress.

The New York Times reported that Fetterman’s severe hearing disability even caused him to hear the voice of the teacher from the “Peanuts” cartoon when listening to people speak.

Fetterman was admitted to the hospital in February after feeling lightheaded during a Democratic retreat, but he returned home days later. Just days after his health scare, the senator checked himself into the hospital to be treated for what was described as “clinical depression.”

The senator’s official return to the Senate on Monday marks the end of his six-week absence, during which he received treatment for depression. Fetterman’s return is a positive sign – we will wait and see if he is indeed capable of fulfilling his duties, moving forward.

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