An 83-year-old House Democrat, Representative Frederica Wilson, has missed votes in the chamber for a month due to an unspecified medical procedure, while her staff continued to post old pictures of her on social media. Wilson, who represents Miami Beach and parts of north Miami, has not attended a vote since April 17.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries addressed speculation on Thursday, stating that Wilson is recovering from a procedure and is expected to return shortly. The congresswoman is running for a ninth term. Her prolonged absence follows a similar situation involving New Jersey Republican Representative Tom Kean, who has been absent since March 5, citing a personal medical issue.
Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence in Kean's return, but Republican leaders are reportedly less certain behind the scenes. The absences come amid increased scrutiny of older lawmakers in Washington, with concerns about a 'gerontocracy' in the city.
