John Fetterman released from hospital after treatment for depression

Sen. John Fetterman has been released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center following a roughly six-week stay for depression treatment.

“I am so happy to be home. I’m excited to be the father and husband I want to be, and the senator Pennsylvania deserves. Pennsylvanians have always had my back, and I will always have theirs,” Fetterman (D-Pa.) said in a statement on Friday.

The 53-year-old freshman senator checked himself into the Bethesda, Md., hospital on Feb. 16 to get treatment for a “severe” bout of clinical depression. 

 “I am extremely grateful to the incredible team at Walter Reed. The care they provided changed my life. I will have more to say about this soon, but for now I want everyone to know that depression is treatable, and treatment works. This isn’t about politics — right now there are people who are suffering with depression in red counties and blue counties. If you need help, please get help,” Fetterman said. 

The senator’s communication director Joe Calvello wrote in a tweet Friday that Fetterman is in Braddock, Pa., and will be back on Capitol Hill on April 17, when the Senate is back in session.

“With the Senate in recess for the next 2 weeks, John will spend time with his family and constituents in PA, and return to DC when the Senate session resumes on 4/17,” Calvello said.