Senator Patrick Leahy hospitalized as a ‘precaution’ after ‘not feeling well’

Washington
CNN
—

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont was hospitalized Thursday night « as a precaution » after « not feeling well, » his office said in a statement.

Leahy, 82, had been at his residence in McLean, Va., before going to a Washington-area hospital where, « On the recommendation of his doctors, he should stay overnight for observation, » the report said. communicated.

The Democrat from Vermont is the third longest serving senator in US history. As interim President of the Senate, he is currently third in the order of presidential succession, after Vice President and Speaker of the House.

Leahy’s hospitalization underscores the delicate 50-50 majority of Democrats in the Senate. It’s unclear how long Leahy will be out, but the chamber won’t vote until after next month’s midterm elections.

Leahy has been hospitalized several times in recent years, including in June when he underwent surgery to repair a broken hip after he fell in his Virginia home, and in January 2021 when he was briefly hospitalized due to of “muscle spasms”.

The oldest US senator still in office, Leahy announced last year that he would not run again in 2022.

« As I continue to serve Vermont, Marcelle and I have come to a conclusion: it’s time to put the hammer down, » Leahy said at the time, referring to his wife. “It is time to pass the torch to the next Vermonter, who will carry on this work for our great state. It’s time to go home.