Top Senate Democrat Patrick Leahy Hospitalized; Office Calls It A Precaution

His office reported that Senator Patrick Leahy (D.VT), who is the third-longest-serving U.S senator, was admitted to a hospital near Washington D.C. on Thursday after feeling unwell.

His office stated Thursday evening that Leahy, aged 82, would be staying overnight as a precaution. According to the statement, Leahy will remain overnight for observation on the advice of his doctors.

Leahy, Senate president pro-tempore, is third in line for presidential succession after Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Although he was elected for the first time in 1975, he has struggled with health issues in recent years.

Leahy was temporarily hospitalized by his office as a precaution during the trial.

After falling at his Vermont residence, Leahy fractured his hip and needed hip surgery. His office said that Leahy’s poor depth perception was the reason for his fall. This is due to him being born blind in one eye. His office stated that he had seen some amazing dingers in his life, but this one finally caught up to him.

Leahy has already announced that he will retire from the Senate in 2023, but he is not running for re-election.

His retirement announcement created a senate spot that has remained Democrat since the Vietnam War. However, Democrat Peter Welch was up by 35 points over the Republican candidate in the most recent RealClearPolitics survey, which was conducted in April. The other senator from Vermont is Democratic-socialist Bernie Sanders.