A rumor circulating on social media has sparked concerns about the health of Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman (D).
The rumor, which has been shared widely on Twitter and other platforms, suggests that Fetterman is brain dead.
Former NYPD officer and conservative commentator John Cardillo was one of the first to spread the rumor, claiming that he had sources who had told him that Fetterman was in a dire state.
Cardillo went on to suggest that Fetterman’s condition was being kept hidden from the public in order to avoid a special election, which he claimed Republicans would be likely to win.
“Being told that Fetterman is essentially brain dead and it’s being hidden because keeping him in office until August 18th avoids a special election which Republicans would most certainly win,” Cardillo wrote on Twitter.
“This must be investigated.”
Fetterman’s office has not issued any statement regarding his health.
Last week, mainstream media outlets reported Fetterman, who suffered a near-fatal stroke in the midst of his campaign last year, checked himself into the hospital to receive treatment for clinical depression.
The Pennsylvania senator admitted himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington per direction from the attending physician of Congress, Brian P. Monahan, who evaluated Fetterman.
“While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks,” said Fetterman’s chief of staff, Adam Jentleson. “After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself.”
