House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz announced late Wednesday that he will be taking an emergency medical leave of absence from Congress for up to a month.
“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," the congressman wrote in an Instagram post.
"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," Chaffetz added.
The Utah Republican posted the message along with an x-ray of his foot and said recovery could take three to four weeks.
The news comes after he announced earlier this month that he would not be seeking re-election in 2018, even indicating that he might not even finish his current term.
