Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Merrick Garland will undergo back surgery this weekend and temporarily hand over his official duties to his deputy, the Justice Department announced Monday.

A Justice Department spokesperson described the medical procedure, scheduled for Saturday, as “minimally invasive” but said it will require Garland, 71, to be under general anesthesia for about 90 minutes, during which Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco will assume his duties.

“The delegation of his duties will go to the Deputy Attorney General shortly before the procedure, during the procedure, and for a brief period following the procedure to allow for recovery from general anesthesia,” Public Affairs Director Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faces a congressional investigation for initially having kept secret his hospitalization over complications that resulted from treatment for prostate cancer. He and his staff waited three days to inform the White House, top national security officials and even some high-ranking defense officials. He was released from the hospital on Jan. 15 after two weeks and returned to the Pentagon on Monday.

Hinojosa said the surgery Garland will undergo is called an interlaminar decompression to address stenosis in his spine. It is essentially aimed at reducing pain in the lower back.

“The Attorney General is likely to go home the same day” as the procedure and “will return to work the week of February 5th,” Hinojosa said.

Michael Kosnar reported from Washington and Dareh Gregorian from New York.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Country singer Conner Smith involved in Nashville crash, killing pedestrian

Emerging Country Artist Conner Smith Cited Following Deadly Accident in Nashville

Police indicated Smith showed no signs of impairment at the time of…
Here's What We've Learned About Those Multiple Suspended Secret Service Agents

Lessons from the Multiple Suspensions of Secret Service Agents

Susan Crabtree, a National Political Correspondent for RealClearPolitics, mentioned on X that…
Israel Gaza Concentration Camp: Haaretz Calls Out Rafah Camp

Haaretz Criticizes Rafah Camp in Gaza, Referring to It as a “Concentration Camp”

Israel’s defense minister is promoting a plan to herd Gaza’s entire population…
Portrait of Colonel Sergei Ilyin in military uniform.

Top Russian Commander, Accused of War Crimes and Atrocities, Killed in Ukraine Attack

VLADIMIR Putin’s brutal war machine was dealt another blow today as Moscow…
Photo of a Chinese citizen detained in Kyiv, Ukraine, for allegedly attempting to export classified documents.

Ukraine Detains Chinese Father and Son Accused of Spying on Long-Range Missile Program

A CHINESE dad and his son have been accused of attempting to…
Jacksonville dance instructor arrested for sex crime with minor

Jacksonville Dance Teacher Charged with Sexual Offense Involving Minor

Samuel Penalba, 34, is also accused of trying to delete photo and…
Photo of a teenage girl and a woman.

Brave 17-year-old dies rescuing his entire family from a van that fell off a cliff into dangerous floodwaters.

A BRAVE teenager saved her entire family after their van plunged off…
'Oversight can't be scheduled': Florida lawmakers sue DeSantis over 'Alligator Alcatraz' access

“Florida Lawmakers Sue DeSantis Over Access Issues to ‘Alligator Alcatraz'”

The five lawmakers, all Democrats, were turned away from entering the facility…
El Chapo's son pleads guilty to US drug trafficking

El Chapo’s Son Admits Guilt in US Drug Trafficking Case

As part of a plea agreement, Guzman Lopez admitted to helping oversee…
Driver arrested after attempting to drive through fence at US military base: authorities

Authorities Detain Driver for Trying to Break Through Fence at US Military Base

Officials in Virginia said an unauthorized individual attempted to enter Joint Base…
Police investigating death of Maine paddleboarder as a homicide after discovery of body

Maine Paddleboarder’s Death Now Being Investigated as a Homicide After Body is Found

UNION, Maine — Police in Maine are investigating the death of a…
Aerial view of a fenced-in facility in a desert landscape.

Israel Reveals Some Iranian Underground Uranium Reserves Withstood Trump’s Assault, Warns of Potential New Strikes

ISRAEL says some of Iran’s highly-enriched near weapons-grade uranium stockpile survived US…