[Update below.] Former President Bill Clinton was rushed to a Manhattan hospital late this afternoon, sources tell ABC News. Clinton, 63, was transported to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan for a condition related to his heart.
ABC News’ chief political correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported that sources said he was taken to the hospital “likely for a stent procedure.”
Sources on Capitol Hill tell ABC News that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was seen leaving the Oval Office a short time ago and did not seem “too concerned” or “in a rush.”
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Sec. Clinton is supposed to leave for an overseas trip to Qatar and Saudi Arabia Friday.
An official told ABC News that Clinton’s ailment seems more like “discomfort&something wasn’t right” rather than a health “crisis.”
Update, 5:18 p.m. EST: Former President Clinton had two stents installed in one of his coronary arteries at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. The former president’s counselor Douglas Band released a statement saying that Clinton is in “good spirits.”
“Today President Bill Clinton was admitted to the Columbia Campus of New York Presbyterian Hospital after feeling discomfort in his chest,” said Band. “Following a visit to his cardiologist, he underwent a procedure to place two stents in one of his coronary arteries.”
A stent is a wire mesh tube used to prop open an artery.
“President Clinton is in good spirits and will continue to focus on the work of his Foundation and Haiti’s relief and long-term recovery efforts.”
Sources on Capitol Hill tell ABC News that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was seen leaving the Oval Office around the same time that Clinton had been hospitalized and did not seem “too concerned” or “in a rush.”
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Secretary Clinton is supposed to leave for an overseas trip to Qatar and Saudi Arabia Friday. It wasn’t know whether the trip would still take place.
An official told ABC News that Clinton’s ailment seems more like “discomfort…something wasn’t right” rather than a health “crisis.”
A friend of the former president’s said that he had been suffering from a cold and had been worn out from his trip to Haiti on Feb. 5.
It was Clinton’s second trip to Haiti since the January earthquake, and as the United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti he met with Haitian leaders and helped coordinate international quake assistance.
Clinton underwent quadruple bypass surgery to clear four blocked arteries nearly six years ago at the same hospital.
{ABC News/Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
May he peiger shortly.
ummmm
are we supposed to have feelings about this?
2, I doubt it, but if we’re moved to comment maybe we should have some respect for the office, and seichel too, and say something like, if G-d sees him worthy of being granted the gift of life, may he use it well.