Hillary Clinton faints, suffers concussion

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who canceled an overseas trip this week due to a stomach virus, suffered a concussion after she fainted, the State Department said Saturday, December 15, LA Times reported.

Clinton, who has said she plans to step down shortly, fainted after she became dehydrated due to the virus, the department said in a statement. She is recovering at home and being monitored by doctors.

“She will continue to work from home next week, staying in regular contact with department and other officials. She is looking forward to being back in the office soon,” the statement said.

Clinton was due to testify in congressional hearings Thursday on the Sept. 11, 2012, attack against a U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador. Her condition may cause the hearing to be postponed. Clinton was scheduled to go to North Africa and the Persian Gulf region on Monday before she became ill. She apparently caught the virus during a recent visit to Europe.

Clinton has said she does not intend to serve in President Obama’s second term. The White House is expected to nominate her replacement and a new Defense secretary later this month. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is also planning to step down.