Las Vegas Sun

April 25, 2024

Harry Reid thanks Rand Paul for medical advice

Harry Reid

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, 75, talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, for the first time since he suffered an eye injury and broken ribs on New Year’s Day accident while exercising at his home in Henderson.

WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid thanked likely Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul of Kentucky for dispensing "expert advice" on Reid's injured right eye.

"I really appreciate it very, very much," the Nevada Democrat said to Paul, a Republican senator and opthamologist who was taking his turn presiding over the chamber Wednesday.

"I want the people of Kentucky to know that, how thoughtful, considerate and kind you've been to me over these months," Reid told Paul.

On New Year's Day, Reid injured the right side of his face while exercising and has had surgery to restore the sight in his eye.

Reid fell and bruised his face and injured his right eye. He's had extensive surgery to try to regain his sight in that eye, which is shielded behind tinted glasses.

Paul is expected to launch a presidential campaign on April 7.

With that remark, Reid launched into a complaint about "another Republican-contrived fight" over legislation to fight human trafficking, which is holding up the confirmation of Loretta Lynch, President Barack Obama's nominee for attorney general.

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