Fetterman calls report of his shirking key Senate duties 'smears' and 'half-truths'

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman denied allegations from former staffers that he is shirking his responsibilities. 

The Wall Street Journal last week published text messages and quoted former staffers who say that Fetterman has been more interested in courting conservative media than doing the critical work a senator is expected to do. 

Fetterman told CNN that these were "disgruntled staffers," who were trying to tarnish his reputation with "smears." 

The allegations come at a time Fetterman's approval ratings are falling within his own party stemming from battles over Israel, Iran and immigration. 

Fetterman didn't reply to the Journal's requests for comment, but he shared a statement with CNN, saying the article was "the third hit piece from disgruntled staffers." He said it was full of "lies, half-truths, innuendos, smears and anonymous." 

“No matter how many smears or stories, I’m proud to continue to deliver for Pennsylvania," Fetterman told CNN. 

The former staffers created an anonymous account on X and are threatening to share more details about the senator. The unverified account warns in its only post so far that Fetterman's lax commitment to Senate duties is worse than what the Journal reported.