80
U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka
U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka is recovering after breaking two ribs Monday night after slipping and falling at his home in Alexandria, Va., his deputy communications director, Jesse Broder Van Dyke, said today.
"He is doing fine and is expected back in the office next week. Thankfully he’s OK," Broder Van Dyke said in an e-mail.
Broder said the 86-year-old senator "received medical attention for the broken ribs," but declined to give out any other information about the senator’s injury.
The injury prevented Akaka, chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, from overseeing a hearing today, Broder Van Dyke said.
However, Akaka today did issue a statement that he was dismayed the U.S. military used the code name "Geronimo" for Osama bin Laden in the raid that killed the al-Qaida leader.
"This victory has otherwise united our country, and it’s unfortunate that this code name was chosen," Akaka said in a statement included in the hearing record and distributed to reporters in the room.
Native American leaders and advocates said comparing the legendary Apache leader to a terrorist and enemy of the United States was deeply insulting.
Akaka said in March that he will not seek another term next year. Former U.S. Rep. Ed Case announced April 10 that he will seek the seat.
