Rep. Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, started a “series of planned, inpatient procedures” Monday as part of his ongoing recovery from a gunshot wound he suffered last summer on a baseball field in Virginia, according to statement provided by his office.
In a note to his whip team obtained by CNN, Scalise said that he planned to return to the Capitol as soon as his doctors allowed him.
“Rest assured that I plan to be fully engaged in my work as I recover from this surgery and I am eager to be back at the Capitol as soon as my doctors say I’m able,” said Scalise, who as Majority Whip is the No. 3 House Republican.
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“Congressman Steve Scalise has initiated a series of planned, inpatient procedures related to his ongoing recovery from injuries sustained in last summer’s shooting attack,” MedStar Washington Hospital Center said in the statement released through Scalise’s office. “He is in excellent spirits and is eager to return to work as soon as possible. It is anticipated that he will remain in the hospital for several days.”
The planned procedure came amid questions about who would replace House Speaker Paul Ryan for speaker, who announced last week that he’s retiring at the end of his term. On Friday, Ryan endorsed Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for the job and Scalise has said repeatedly he won’t challenge McCarthy in a head-to-head matchup.
A leadership source told CNN last week that that Scalise’s intention is “to be ready” in the case that McCarthy isn’t. McCarthy had previously run for speaker in 2015 to replace the retiring John Boehner, before abruptly withdrawing from the race.
This story has been updated to include additional developments.