Chaffetz to have surgery, will miss several weeks in Washington

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) said Wednesday he will be out of Washington for three to four weeks amid a crucial work period in Congress.

Chaffetz made the announcement on Instagram, saying that he needs immediate surgery to remove screws and pins from his foot or he “could be at risk for serious infection.”

“My recovery is expected to take three to four weeks,” he wrote alongside X-ray images showing the 14 screws and a metal plate in his foot.

“I’m sorry to miss the important work we are doing in Washington. This is not an opportune time to be away but medical emergencies are never convenient.”

{mosads}The injury occurred about 12 years ago, he said, when he shattered several foot bones after falling off a ladder.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman shocked Washington earlier this month when he announced he would not run for reelection and might leave Congress before his term ends.

He has not announced his future plans, though he’s said he’s considering private-sector jobs.

He said last week that he wouldn’t be on the ballot for House or Senate in 2018. But he didn’t rule out running for public office, including governor, in the future.

 

Almost 12 years ago, I shattered several bones in my foot which required 14 screws and a metal plate to repair. Yes, I wish I could say I was cliff diving in Mexico but the truth is I fell off a ladder while repairing something in my garage. The University of Utah doctors now recommend immediate surgery to remove all the hardware or I could be at risk for serious infection. My recovery is expected to take three to four weeks. I’m sorry to miss the important work we are doing in Washington. This is not an opportune time to be away but medical emergencies are never convenient. I appreciate my constituent’s patience and understanding as I take time to recover.

A post shared by Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) on Apr 26, 2017 at 5:24pm PDT