Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Released From Hospital

Outgoing U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada was discharged from a Las Vegas hospital Friday after being injured in an accident while exercising. Reid broke several facial bones and ribs, as reported by USA Today. The accident happened when a piece of exercise equipment in his home malfunctioned.

“Senator Reid has been discharged from the University Medical Center hospital in Las Vegas and is headed to his home in Henderson,” representative Kristen Orthman said in a statement. “He will return to Washington this weekend to be ready for the Senate to convene on Tuesday. He spent the day with his wife, Landra, talking to fellow senators, friends and staff and preparing for the Senate’s return. He sends his thanks to all those who sent warm wishes and is ready to get back to work.”

President Barack Obama spoke with Reid Friday to wish him well. “This morning, the President phoned Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid to wish him a full and speedy recovery,” White House representative Eric Schultz said. “The President was glad to hear the leader is doing well, and will be back in Washington this weekend.”

Reid will become the Senate minority leader when Congress reconvenes Tuesday, as reported by the Washington Post. He will relinquish the role of majority leader to Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as a result of the Republicans capturing control of the upper chamber in the November midterm elections. When Congress begins its 114th session, the agenda will quickly become packed with items that the GOP has been trying to move unsuccessfully under Democratic control. But now that the Republicans run both chambers, Reid will be busy trying to scuttle their attempts to implement their agenda.

Reid was injured at his home in Henderson Thursday. His security team took him first to a local facility and then to the hospital in Las Vegas, CBS News reported. Doctors kept him overnight for observation, but expect him to make a full recovery, BBC News said

The health of the 75-year-old senator has been the source of much speculation with respect to whether he will seek re-election in 2016. Those close to him hypothesize his health is the only reason he wouldn’t run again. In 2013, he was hospitalized for exhaustion. In 2012, he was hospitalized after a multicar accident in Nevada. And, in 2005, he suffered a stroke.