Hillary Clinton treated for pneumonia after leaving Sept. 11 ceremony,
NEW YORK — Hillary Clinton on Sunday abruptly left a ceremony in New York marking the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, and a video appeared to show her struggling to maintain her balance as a pair of Secret Service agents lifted her into a van. The incident, according to a statement from her physician, was related to pneumonia and dehydration.
“Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies. On Friday, during follow up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia,” said Dr. Lisa R. Bardack, who examined Clinton at her house in Chappaqua, N.Y., on Sunday. “She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule. While at this morning’s event, she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her and she is now rehydrated and recovering nicely.”
Clinton was taken from the morning event at ground zero to the Manhattan apartment of her daughter, Chelsea. About 90 minutes after arriving there, Clinton emerged from the apartment.
“I’m feeling great,” Clinton said. “It’s a beautiful day in New York.”
Clinton left in her motorcade without the group of reporters that is designated to travel with her in public. A campaign spokesman, Nick Merrill, indicated that she returned to her Chappaqua residence after 1 p.m.
Merrill described the Democratic presidential nominee as feeling “overheated” during the commemoration ceremony.
But a video of Clinton taken by an attendee appears to show her legs buckling as she struggles to steady herself and walk toward her waiting van. She requires assistance from two Secret Service agents, who held her on either side, to get off a curb and into the van. Close-up images revealed her feet were dragging as she was hoisted into the vehicle.
“She seemed fine,” said Rep. Peter T. King, R-N.Y., who recalled greeting and speaking briefly with the former secretary of state around 8:30 a.m.
But about an hour later there was a minor commotion, King said. A number of current and former elected officials had been standing in silence as the names of the victims of the attacks were read. Suddenly, Clinton, herself a former New York senator, left her position.