An elderly Texas lawmaker who was believed to have been missing from the Capitol for six months is now living in a memory care retirement community. Her family also agrees that she may be showing signs of dementia.
Longtime Republican Rep. Kay Granger, 81, has not cast a vote in Washington, D.C., since July, even though Republicans hold a razor-thin majority in the chamber.
Questions about Ms. Granger’s health arose on Friday, when the Dallas Express, started by one of Ms. Granger’s political opponents, reported that she was living full time in a memory care unit and had been found wandering the neighborhood. It caused a huge uproar after it was reported that he had been transferred to
Ms. Granger did not run for re-election in November, but her decision comes as Republicans hold a slim majority in the House and a slew of votes, including on government spending bills, come as her term nears its end. Her disappearance is particularly significant considering that
But her son told the Post that the allegations were “outrageous” and that she moved to a condo in an independent living community because she became bored and lonely in her Fort Worth apartment.
Three sources close to Granger, including his son Brandon. Her current publicist. Another acquaintance denied to the Post that she was living in a memory care unit. Her son did not respond to The Post about whether she received care from the unit.
“There’s a memory care facility there, but she’s in an independent living facility. It’s a nice condo. I helped her move,” Brandon Granger said.
Brandon Granger acknowledged that his mother was showing signs of dementia, which only appeared in the last three months of her life at the facility.
Sources told the Post that Granger “has been in touch with leadership from the beginning to keep them informed about what’s going on and is willing to return to Washington, D.C., if they need her for a particular vote.” “It was,” he said.
Granger’s publicist released a statement attributed to her, saying, “We deeply appreciate the outpouring of care and concern over the past few days.”
“As many of my family, friends, and colleagues know, I have been navigating unexpected health challenges over the past year. However, since early September, my health issues have been… It progressed, making frequent travel to Washington difficult and unpredictable.”
Dallas Express reporters who visited the facility to confirm Mr. Granger’s residency and ask about his plans to vote on the spending bill were not allowed to speak with him, the paper said.
However, employees confirmed that Granger lives on the premises, the Express reported.
The CEO of the Dallas Express is Chris Putnam, who ran against Granger in the 2020 Republican primary and lost.
Granger was the first female Republican to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, but abruptly resigned from the position in March, handing the baton to Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.).
She notably did not attend last week’s government funding debate in Congress, which once brought Congress to the brink of a government shutdown.
Granger appeared last month to be presented with a portrait, despite being conspicuously absent from voting in Washington, D.C., in recent months. The unveiling ceremony was attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana).
One official said that if Kay Granger, who was first elected to Congress in 1997, had retired in September, a special election would have been held and her constituents in Texas’ 12th Congressional District would not have received critical services. He emphasized that he would not have been able to do so.
Congress was in recess from August to October, much of the time the Lone Star State’s Republicans were away from the nation’s capital. Still, while her absence didn’t garner the attention of many national newspapers, it didn’t go completely unnoticed by her voters.
Local officials expressed disappointment at the revelation that Mr. Granger had been away from Washington after representing the district since 1997.
Beau French, a Tarrant County Republican chainman, said the lack of representation during the critical voting period in Congress is “troubling to say the least.”
“At a time when very important votes are being taken on the debt ceiling, disaster relief, farm bill, border issues, Kay Granger is nowhere to be seen. The margins in Congress are razor-thin, and CD-12 2 million people are disenfranchised by the lack of a representative Republican vote. We deserve better,” French said.
Rolando Garcia, executive director of the state Republican Party, said it was a “sad and humiliating way” for Granger to end a 30-year career in politics, including as mayor of Fort Worth.
“The fact that Kay Granger will not be able to leave her nursing home to take part in this year’s most important parliamentary vote suggests that she was already in clear decline by the time she ran for re-election in 2022. ” Garcia wrote to X.
“It’s a sad and humiliating way to end her political career. It’s sad that no one was interested enough in ‘picking up the keys’ until she got to this moment.” And there is also a sad commentary on the elder politics of Congress,” he added.
Granger’s voters also expressed concerns about lack of representation and suggested Congressman-elect Craig Goldman, who won the seat in November, should take over early.
“We need people who can perform to the best of their abilities. Let’s pledge early to Craig. That’s the solution. That’s the right thing to do. She just missed out on a big vote. , although one vote did not determine the outcome, we still We have to protect our country, and it’s not about hurt feelings. She’s a public servant and we appreciate her service, but now she needs to resign.” resident Holly Plemmons told the Express.
Mr. Granger and his staff will remain on the taxpayer’s payroll until January 3.
