Lung surgery stems from assault, Rand Paul says
FRANKFORT, Ky. — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul underwent lung surgery in a procedure he said stems from injuries suffered when a neighbor tackled him outside his Kentucky home in 2017.
The Republican lawmaker and former presidential candidate tweeted Monday that part of his lung damaged in the assault was removed during the weekend surgery in Tennessee. The senator is continuing his recovery at home, a Paul spokeswoman said.
“I will have to limit my August activities,” the 56-year-old Paul said in the tweet, adding that he “should” be able to return to the Senate in September.
“Sen. Paul will need to recover from his surgery for a few weeks, which will limit his travel and events,” his spokeswoman, Kelsey Cooper, said in a statement. “He will continue to work on diplomacy, legislative and constituent issues during that time.”
Paul was tapped for mediation efforts to potentially open a back channel for restarting nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Both of Kentucky’s senators are laid up with health issues during Congress’ August break.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell suffered a shoulder fracture Sunday when tripping on his outdoor patio at his Louisville home. The 77-year-old Republican leader also is recovering and working from home.
Paul underwent the lung surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. In his tweet, he thanked the doctors, nurses and staff.