Sarbanes Passes Out at Rodino’s Funeral
Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.) was rushed to a hospital in Newark, N.J., on Monday, after collapsing at the funeral of former House Judiciary Chairman Peter Rodino (D-N.J.).
Jesse Jacobs, a spokesman for Sarbanes, said the 72-year-old Senator should be fine.
Jacobs said Sarbanes had been standing during the funeral at St. Lucy’s Roman Catholic Church in Newark when he “felt a little woozy, fell down and passed out.”
He was taken to University Hospital and was listed in good condition.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) took to the floor Monday afternoon to inform his colleagues of Sarbanes’ hospitalization, apparently prompting some to fear about the Senator’s health when he urged those listening to pray for Sarbanes and his family.
Sarbanes, Jacobs said, was alert and joking with medical personnel as soon as he arrived at the hospital. He was also in touch with his Capitol Hill staff.
“He’s giving orders from Newark,” Jacobs said.
Sarbanes served with and then under Rodino on the Judiciary Committee until joining the Senate in 1977. Rodino died last week at the age of 95.
— Josh Kurtz