Newly released Fetterman texts show a reluctance to perform constituent duties

September 4, 2026 / 11:16 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Sen. John Fetterman has appeared uninterested in performing constituent service duties, according to text messages between the Pennsylvania Democrat and his staffers that were obtained by CBS News.

The Wall Street Journal was the first to publish the text messages, and reported that Fetterman has routinely dismissed and at times refused to do core aspects of the job, such as meeting with constituents, holding events in his home state and attending hearings. A former staffer confirmed the accuracy of the Journal's story to CBS News.

In one incident, Fetterman reportedly told people he was sick to avoid meeting with a group of paralyzed military veterans from Pennsylvania. Instead, he appeared on Fox News. Fetterman also dismissed requests to meet with representatives of a children's hospital and to attend the funerals of three slain police officers near his hometown, according to a set of 2025 text exchanges reviewed by CBS News.

The former staffer said of Fetterman: "You can't have any sort of substantial conversation with him about any policy or strategy without it becoming completely derailed or unhinged."

In a series of texts reviewed by CBS News, Fetterman…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/