Sen. Patrick Leahy, the most senior Democratic senator, said he was given a “clean bill of health” after being briefly hospitalized on Tuesday evening after having muscle spasms.
The 80-year-old Vermont Democrat, who is in the presidential line of succession and will preside over former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial next month, said “of course” he’s confident he can serve out the rest of his term that ends next year. As to whether he seeks a ninth term in the Senate, Leahy said he’s in no rush to decide.
“The latest polls show me winning easily. But you all know this, I never make up my mind until November or December of the year before,” Leahy told reporters after opening the Senate up on Wednesday morning. “And I’m not going to now. Usually we’ve gone skiing and snowshoeing and then we talk about it.”
Leahy is one of the most integral parts of the Senate Democrats’ threadbare new majority in a tied Senate. He’s expected to soon assume the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is third in the line of presidential succession and is also slated to oversee what may be a grueling impeachment trial.
When asked if he’s been fully cleared to return to his full duties, Leahy indicated he already was: “I opened the Senate this morning.”