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The Pennsylvania doctor who declared Democrat Senate candidate John Fetterman fit to serve five months after his stroke was a campaign donor.
Fetterman, 53, suffered a stroke on May 13 and his health has become a campaign issue in a bad-tempered tussle with TV doctor Mehmet Oz, who has claimed his rival is now ill-equipped to serve in high office.
On Wednesday Fetterman’s doctor, Dr Clifford Chen, said he was recovering well but still had some difficulties with ‘auditory processing.’
It later emerged that Chen, who works out of a clinic in Duquesne, a suburb of Pittsburg, had given cash to Fetterman’s campaign and dozens of other Democrat causes – with more than 300 mostly small contributions since 2015.
Chen donated $500 to Fetterman’s fund, Fetterman For PA, in June 2021, according to campaign records.
Dr Clifford Chen (left) on Friday examined John Fetterman, and the results were published on Wednesday – with Chen saying Fetterman was recovering well from his May 13 stroke. It has since emerged that Chen is a Democrat donor
Chen donated $500 to Fetterman’s campaign in June 2021
He also gave money to the campaigns of Democrats including Val Demings in Florida, and Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia.
Chen contributed $170 to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, and gave to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in previous cycles.
His biggest contributions were to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), to whom he gave at least $1,100.
Chen’s intervention came as Oz upped his attacks, asking on Wednesday whether Fetterman’s wife would have to take the seat instead of her husband.
At times Fetterman has stumbled over his words and he has used closed-captioning video equipment to help him respond to interview questions.
In his one-page letter, Chen said Fetterman continued to recover well.
‘His speech was normal and he continues to exhibit symptoms of an auditory processing disorder which can come across as hearing difficulty,’ he wrote after examining him on Friday.
‘Occasional words he will “miss” which seems like he doesn’t hear the word but it is actually not processed properly.’
John Fetterman on Wednesday released a doctor’s letter saying that he was recovering well from his stroke but still had some difficulties with ‘auditory processing’
In a one-page letter, Dr. Clifford Chen said Fetterman continued to recover well after suffering the medical emergency five months ago. He said he had examined him on Friday
He added that Fetterman exhibited no ill effects on his ‘cognitive ability.’
The letter also said his vita signs were all normal and included a declaration that he was fit to work.
‘Overall, Lt. Governor Fetterman is well and shows strong commitment to maintaining good fitness and health practices,’ it concluded.
‘He has no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office.’
Fetterman said the emergency had encouraged Pennsylvanians to share their own stories of health problems and made him only more determined to help them.
And he hit back at his opponent.
‘Unfortunately for Dr. Oz, I’m ready to serve and continue to get better every single day,’ he said.
The bad-tempered race has been marked by frequent exchanges of insults as the two candidates battle for Pennsylvania’s open Senate seat.
FiveThirtyEight’s rolling average of polls suggests the Democrat holds five-point lead over his rival.
Oz has turned Fetterman’s health into a hammer, repeatedly accusing his opponent of hiding his condition.
TV’s Dr. Oz has turned Fetterman’s health into a campaign issue, questioning whether the Pennsylvania lieutenant governor has the cognitive ability to serve in the Senate
‘This is not about me or him. This is about the voters,’ he told the Hugh Hewitt show.
‘They have a right to know what’s going on in his body so they can tell if his wife is right or not. Is she going to be the senator or is he going to be the senator.
‘These are topics that he is continually ducking.’
The White House defended Fetterman on Monday, saying he had President Joe Biden’s full support.
‘Speaking only about the president’s personal conversation with Lieutenant Governor Fetterman, the president has found him to be an impressive individual, and just as capable … as always, who is carrying out his office,’ said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Biden is due to fly to Philadelphia to raise funds for Fetterman on Thursday.
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