Byrd Released From Hospital, Recovering From Infection

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, the oldest and longest-serving member of the Senate, was released from the hospital this morning after being treated for an infection.

It was Byrd's second hospitalization this year, and his health problems have led to much speculation over the whether the 90-year-old senator can handle his duties as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Byrd has sternly rejected any notion that he'll step aside, and last month handled a significant amount of the workload debating the Iraq war bill on the Senate floor.

Upon being released from Inova Fairfax Hospital, Byrd said he was glad to hear about the success of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's brain surgery on Monday and wondered whether Vice President Cheney had apologized for making a West Virginia joke in a speech earlier this week.

“Yesterday, Sen. Byrd talked with several of his staff members and told them how pleased he was to hear about Sen. Ted Kennedy’s successful surgery and also asked his staff if Vice President Cheney had issued an apology to the people of West Virginia for his recent derogatory remarks about the people of the Mountain State," Byrd's office said in a statement.

Cheney did apologize. And Byrd will return to the Capitol when his doctor clears him for Senate action.

UPDATE: Byrd's office has pointed out to the Crypt that Cheney's staff apologized on his behalf, but the vice president himself did not utter the actual apology.