Representative Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, listens during a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, July 29, 2020.
Mandel Ngan | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Rep. Greg Steube is “making progress” but remained hospitalized Thursday with “several serious injuries” he sustained after a 25-foot fall off a ladder at his Florida home, his office said.
The 44-year-old House Republican spent the night in an intensive care unit after he was “knocked” off the ladder while cutting tree limbs on his property late Wednesday afternoon, Steube’s office said in tweets from his official account. On Thursday, doctors transferred him out of the ICU.
Steube’s injuries “are still under assessment but not life threatening presently,” his office said. “He’s making progress and in good spirits.”
It thanked the medical personnel treating him and Sarasota County’s emergency services, in addition to “the person who witnessed the autumn and immediately called 911.”
It’s unclear whether Steube will likely be unable to travel to Washington, D.C., to perform his duties, and in that case for the way long. A 3rd-term congressman from Florida’s seventeenth Congressional District, Steube had recently been named to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He won his latest election with nearly 64% of the vote.
“Our family’s prayers exit to Congressman Steube this morning,” tweeted Joe Scarborough, a former Florida Republican congressman turned MSNBC morning host and frequent GOP critic. “We pray for Greg’s speedy recovery and pray also that he and his family will likely be surrounded with love and support.”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted later Thursday morning that he spoke with Steube and his wife, saying that the injured congressman is “in good spirits.”
“Our entire conference prays for a swift recovery,” McCarthy tweeted, adding, “I informed him he’ll serve on the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, and he’s wanting to get back to work!”
Steube’s potential absence could further narrow the already slim Republican majority within the House, giving McCarthy even less leeway for dissent as he seeks to corral his caucus ahead of a fraught legislative session.
Earlier Thursday morning, McCarthy reiterated his vow to finish proxy voting within the House, a Covid-era policy enacted under his Democratic predecessor, current Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
This story was updated with latest information on Steube’s condition.
