Government

Hillary Clinton to Return to Work Next Week, Will Testify on Benghazi

Hillary Clinton to Return to Work Next Week, Will Testify on Benghazi

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Credit: AFP/Getty Images

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, sidelined for almost a month by a string of medical problems, is upbeat and planning to return to work next week, the State Department said Thursday.

One day after being released from the New York hospital that was treating a blood clot in her head, Clinton was at home resting, but was far from idle. She spent the day engaging with senior staff, reviewing paperwork and calling in to a meeting of her foreign policy advisory board, said her spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland.

“She’s looking forward to getting back to the office,” Nuland said. “She is very much planning to do so next week.”

The announcement that Clinton soon would return to her Washington office ended what had been a somber point of uncertainty hanging over her month-long health ordeal: whether the 65-year-old secretary would be able to resume her duties before stepping down at the start of President Barack Obama’s second term, as she had long planned to do.

Clinton in early December began the final few weeks of a widely lauded term as the nation’s top diplomat. But a celebratory mood increasingly gave way to worry and uncertainty over her future as she took ill with a stomach virus, then seemed to deteriorate. While at home recuperating from the virus, Clinton became dehydrated and fainted, fell and struck her head, leading to a concussion, her spokesman said.

Then on Sunday, doctors performing a follow-up exam discovered a clot in a vein that runs through the space between the brain and the skull behind the right ear. Clinton was admitted to New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where doctors began administering blood thinners to dissolve the clot. Clinton’s physicians have said there was no neurological damage and they expect her to make a full recovery.

Hillary Clinton to Return to Work Next Week, Will Testify on Benghazi

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, center, is transported on the New York Presbyterian Hospital complex Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, in New York. Officials say Clinton who was admitted to the New York hospital Sunday continues to be treated with blood thinners to dissolve a clot in the vein behind the right ear. Doctors found the clot during a follow-up exam stemming from a concussion she suffered in early December. Credit: AP

Until Wednesday, when Clinton was photographed getting into a van with her husband, Bill, and daughter, Chelsea, a few hours before being released, she hadn’t been seen in public since Dec. 7.

How much of her normal schedule the globetrotting Clinton will be able to resume is not yet clear, and her doctors have advised her not to travel abroad for the time being, her spokeswoman said. In the meantime, well wishes are pouring in from around the world.

“I think you could call the number of good will messages a tsunami,” Nuland said.

Clinton’s illness in December abruptly halted her usually jam-packed schedule, forcing her to cancel a trip to North Africa and the Middle East and to postpone scheduled testimony before Congress on the fatal Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya. “She is committed to testifying, and we are working with the committees on an appropriate set of dates,” Nuland said.

She was also absent from the White House last month when Obama nominated Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to succeed her.

The State Department said Thursday that Kerry has started meeting with diplomatic staff to prepare for his Senate confirmation hearings, and while at the department’s Foggy Bottom headquarters on Wednesday he received a large amount of briefing materials. Kerry will return to the State Department for regular meetings starting Friday.

Clinton’s medical struggles have also raised questions about her political future and how her health might influence her decision about whether to run for president in 2016, a move prominent Democrats have been urging her to consider.

Patients with the particular type of clot Clinton has are typically on a blood thinner for three to six months and are monitored to see if the clot goes away, said Dr. Ralph Sacco, a neurologist at the University of Miami. Even if the clot does not fully dissolve, it can become stable and do no harm.

“Vein clots can come and go and sometimes not even cause symptoms,” said Sacco who was not involved in Clinton’s care. “A very high proportion of people have great recovery.”

Clinton also suffered from a blood clot in 1998, midway through her husband’s second term as president. That clot was located in her knee.

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Comments (61)

  • taintso
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 11:32pm

    Remember condoms help prevent stomach virus.

    Report this comment

    taintso  
    • Raging_Waters
      Posted on January 4, 2013 at 1:03am

      I sure hope that bump on the head didn’t affect her memory……..

      Report this comment

      Raging_Waters  
    • 702TruthSeeker
      Posted on January 4, 2013 at 12:15pm

      cough cough.. i’m sorry, i’m still not feeling too well.. cough cough. . you know, i was having some health isues around the time of the benghazi attack and it was mostly handled by _______________

      guesses anyone on who the hot potato will go to next? obama didn’t want it, hilary doesn’t want it, anyone?

      Report this comment

      702TruthSeeker  
  • taintso
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 11:12pm

    I wonder if she had enough time to generate support for her lies?

    Report this comment

    taintso  
  • Totally Domestic
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 10:09pm

    I will believe it when I see it.
    One theory debunked, she didn’t have a face lift.

    Report this comment

    Totally Domestic  
  • ktmrider1
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 9:18pm

    gee Ill bet that will be real exciting. 5 hours of- ” I dont recall” or I dont remember” or dont you dumb asses see my injury daily in the democrat prapoganda machine ( abc, cbs,nbc, hollywood, internet blogs, what few newspapers are left, and so on and so on. its all good for me I will sit back with my government job and laugh my ass off at what a bunch of really stupid people america has become

    Report this comment

    ktmrider1  
  • AmericaMustBeFree
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 8:58pm

    One thing for sure.. this job has made her age significantly. Old and wrinkled.. and the lies will come soon!

    Report this comment

    AmericaMustBeFree  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on January 4, 2013 at 11:26am

      The first lie was when she told “billie” she would marry him cause she “loved” him.! She was/is an OLD-WORLD FABIAN-SOCIALLIST and married him to ‘MOULD-HIM” TO HER HEART’S DESIRE…MONEY$$…POWER…AN MONEY$$…AN POWER…AN POWER…A……….!

      Report this comment

      G-WHIZ  
  • Maxim Crux
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 8:37pm

    She is only dedicated to her own corruption and power.

    Report this comment

    Maxim Crux  
  • dosdelgados
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 8:23pm

    She’ll be back in the hospital before then.

    Report this comment

    dosdelgados  
  • tomagolledge
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 8:06pm

    I thought with Obama the Rich were getting taxed! Bascially, the Rich get a reprieve and the supper Rich pay a little more in tax while middle-income earners get hit with this huge payroll tax that was suppose to be reversed! http://www.cnn.com.qr.net/j36H/

    Report this comment

    tomagolledge  
  • HI_Don
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:42pm

    β€œShe is committed to testifying” Well that’s a switch, I could have sworn she was being committed to not testify.

    Anyway, we all know how this will go. “Secretary Clinton, can you tell me where the video story came from?”
    “I can’t remember”
    “Can you tell me why the video story ever made even enough sense that you did not rush to correct the statement when you heard it?”
    “I can’t remember”
    “Can you tell me why Stephens was in Benghazi?”
    “I can’t remember”
    “Can you tell me if the President issued an order to send resources to rescue the Ambassador or if he issued a “stand down” order to prevent it?”
    “I can’t remember”
    “Can you at least confirm if you were in the situation room during any of the seven hours of the attack?”
    “Oh! Wait, I got this one, yes, yes I remember.”
    “So you were in the situation room during the time Benghazi was under attack?”
    “What? Oh, no I thought you asked if I had been to the bathroom, see that is where I fell down and hit my head. Got a concussion you know. Uh, who are you anyway?”

    Report this comment

    HI_Don  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:35pm

    This clot was formed because of a disgusting internet video that mocked Mohammed.

    Report this comment

    TH30PH1LUS  
  • pavepaws
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:20pm

    Watch out in the shower.

    Report this comment

    pavepaws  
  • blanco5
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:16pm

    It depends on what the definition of “will” testify is.

    Report this comment

    blanco5  
  • JOHNNYROTEN
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:11pm

    she has one chance to throw the guttersnipe under the bus before she has tire tracks up her back

    Report this comment

    JOHNNYROTEN  
  • Advection
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:09pm

    So, a deal was done?

    Hillary was given every question before hand and has already answered them? And both sides agreed to hold a ceremonial “hearing” for CSPAN? Her “illness” was necessary because it takes time for bribe checks to transfer offshore?

    OK.

    Report this comment

    Advection  
  • noslave
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:06pm

    i can see it now,any republicans hard questioning regarding the death of 4 americans,will cause the usual tribe members on the democrat side,will interupt the questioning at all costs,probably claiming their picking on a poor disabled woman??the obama owned propaganda media will also run with this??like they did with the sandy victims aid bill ??it was them cruel republicans,not the bill was loaded down with PORK??$248 million for hollywood??is that kick-backs for favoriable obama propaganda,etc???

    Report this comment

    noslave  
  • woodyee
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:58pm

    Clinton Testimony:
    “I’m sorry – I don’t remember.”
    “I’m sorry – I don’t recall.”
    “I can’t say for sure – I’m sorry.”
    “I’m not sure that was the case – I’m sorry.”
    “I’m sorry – I can’t remember.”
    “I’m sorry – I can’t recall.”

    “I don’t think so – I was, um, baking cookies for my daughter, and my brain is jello, jello, jello…”

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • Jerbear1098
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:56pm

    Anyone hear she may have been in a plain crash in Iran? Thus the lengthy hospital stay.

    http://www.eutimes.net/2013/01/obama-warned-to-prepare-for-hillary-clinton-death/

    Report this comment

    Jerbear1098  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:53pm

    Her statement will be just like the rest of them! She will claim ignorance of the whole matter! But in her case she won’t be lying!

    Report this comment

    heavyduty  
  • armymp
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:49pm

    I heard that her Proctologist found the clot on her brain, but I could be wrong!

    Report this comment

    armymp  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:46pm

    Fill her with truth serum and let `er rip!

    Report this comment

    kickagrandma  
  • chkiaar
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:43pm

    I still say she won’t testify and IF she does it won’t amount to a hill of beans.

    Report this comment

    chkiaar  
  • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:41pm

    Must have been a HUGE freaking clot to get stuck in the space between her brain and skull.

    Report this comment

    Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
  • FISH_BONE
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:39pm

    Just enough time to get all of the kinks worked out of the script for her testimony.

    Report this comment

    FISH_BONE  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:00pm

      I was thinking the same thing: She’s fine, ladies and gentleman. Just needed to hammer down a story for the hearings.

      Report this comment

      Al J Zira  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:38pm

    And what are the odds most of her testimony will be “I don’t remember?”

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:45pm

      If she even shows .. what’s next? … cold, hangnail, etc. ? Yes .. “I have no recollection” … so don’t they keep records at the State Department? Why was the Ambassador turned down for security,,,, who said “stand down” on 9/11? (from my info only one person could give that order and that is BHO). Where is the paper trail?

      Report this comment

      CatB  
  • ResistSocialism
    Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:36pm

    Maybe now that the brain clot is cleared she can honestly tell the American people what happened.

    Report this comment

    ResistSocialism  
    • FISH_BONE
      Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:41pm

      You used the word “honestly” in a comment about Hillary Clinton? Now that’s funny.

      Report this comment

      FISH_BONE  
    • ResistSocialism
      Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:49pm

      @fish but they cleared out the brain clot… so I am hoping… lol

      Report this comment

      ResistSocialism  
    • mackadoo57
      Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:49pm

      She was on a wine tasting tour in Peru after the Benghazi incident and who knows where during the “MURDERS”. Then she is to testify and suddenly fainted “BS” then she has to go to the Hospital and they find a Clot “BS” while all this fainting and Clotting is going on she is being coached on what to say and lie about. I was born at night but no last night. She and the Obama administration are “LIARS and MURDERERS” It is all to obvious. A detective can smell Murder and so can I. If I were a family member I would go deep into this and prosecute them.

      Report this comment

      mackadoo57  
    • FISH_BONE
      Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:05pm

      They originally thought it was a brain clot. Turns out it was a hemorrhoid.

      Report this comment

      FISH_BONE  

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