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U.S. NEWS Friday 29 September 2017
Cheers, tears and hugs as wounded Scalise returns to Capitol

Capitol Hill police officers control his bleeding and
who helped kill the shoot- save his life.
er, James Hodgkinson of House Minority Leader Nan-
Belleville, Illinois, and he cy Pelosi, D-Calif., praised
praised the doctors who Scalise’s strength and said,
patched him together “Today we are Team Scal-
through repeated surger- ise.” Under normal circum-
ies. The officers, Crystal Gri- stances, she might have
ner and David Bailey, were been plotting to under-
also injured. mine the No. 3 House GOP
“David, you are my hero,” leader, who is in charge of
Scalise said to Bailey, who rounding up votes for Re-
was in the chamber. “You publican legislation.
saved my life.” But for the day — or for a
Griner is still recovering at few minutes, anyway —
home. partisanship was aban-
The lawmaker also thanked doned.
his wife, Jennifer, who Seated behind Scalise was
watched from the visitors Rep. Cedric Richmond,
gallery. D-La., star of the Demo-
Among those Scalise em- crats’ baseball team. Re-
braced were a teary-eyed publicans and Democrats
Rep. Brad Wenstrup, an alike gathered around
Army combat surgeon in Scalise for selfies, a clear
Iraq. The Ohio Republican violation of House rules that
House Republican Whip Steve Scalise walks with his wife Jennifer, left, as he leaves the House had applied a tourniquet neither party had any inter-
chamber in the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) that Scalise said helped est in enforcing.q
By ALAN FRAM secretary Sarah Huckabee
Associated Press Sanders. He also tweeted,
WASHINGTON (AP) — “Welcome back @SteveS-
Greeted by hugs, tears and calise!” and posted a vid-
a roaring standing ovation, eo of Scalise arriving in the
a hobbling Majority Whip House chamber.
Steve Scalise returned to Scalise and four others
the House on Thursday, were wounded when a
more than three months af- gunman opened fire on a
ter a gunman sprayed fire Republican baseball prac-
at a baseball practice and tice — GOP and Demo-
left the lawmaker cling- cratic lawmakers face off
ing to life. “You have no in a game each year — in
idea how great this feels nearby Alexandria, Virgin-
to be back here at work in ia. U.S. Capitol Police and
the people’s house,” the other officers returned fire
51-year-old Louisiana Re- and killed the gunman. The
publican said to a cham- rifle-wielding attacker had
ber packed with lawmak- nursed grievances against
ers, including senators who Trump and the GOP.
had crossed the Capitol to Scalise was struck in the
welcome him back. Scal- hip; the bullet tore into
ise limped into the cham- blood vessels, bones and
ber on crutches, wearing internal organs. He arrived
sneakers, smiling broadly at Medstar Washington
and blowing kisses in his first Hospital Center at “immi-
public appearance since nent risk of death,” trauma
the June 14 shooting. surgeon Dr. Jack Sava said
“Our prayers have been at the time.
answered,” declared He was hospitalized for
Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. more than a month and
The moment marked a joy- has undergone rehabilita-
fully bipartisan departure tion treatment ever since.
from the bitter divisions that “I’m a living example that
have dominated Congress miracles do happen,” Scal-
this year between two par- ise said. On Thursday, he
ties battling over President headed into the House
Donald Trump and the chamber through the ad-
GOP agenda. jacent Statuary Hall, walk-
“It does show the warm ing past journalists, cam-
side of Congress that very eras, congressional staffers
few people get to see,” and tourists.
Scalise said. “I’m walking, I’m voting,
Trump spoke to Scalise, I’m back to work,” he said.
said White House press Scalise thanked the two