Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Johnson in Critical Condition After Late Night Brain Surgery

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., is shown in a file photo from Jan. 7, 2006, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Johnson suffered a possible stroke Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, and was taken to a Washington hospital, his office said.

AP: S.D. Sen. Johnson in critical condition

Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson (news, bio, voting record) was in critical condition early Thursday, a hospital official said, after late-night brain surgery that followed hospitalization for stroke-like symptoms.

Johnson was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, just weeks after his party gained a one-seat Senate majority in midterm elections, effective Jan. 4, 2007.

A person in George Washington University Hospital’s media relations office said the hospital was preparing to announce that Johnson’s condition was critical. The employee, who declined to be identified because a formal statement was pending, would not describe the surgery.

The surgery lasted past midnight Wednesday, and was disclosed by another official who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitive nature of the subject.

Apart from the risk to his health, Johnson’s illness carried political ramifications. Democrats emerged from last month’s elections with a 51-49 Senate majority. If he were forced to relinquish his seat, a replacement would be named by South Dakota’s GOP Gov. Mike Rounds.

A Republican appointee would create a 50-50 tie, and allow the GOP to retain Senate control.

Stay tuned for a news conference later in the morning .

Say a prayer for the Senator and his family……

Update (6:19 AM PST):

Fox News is reporting Senator John is recovering from successful brain surgery. His stroke like symptoms are a result of arteriovenous malformations.

As Flap surmised last night. Johnson was either bleeding in his brain or it was imminent for a bleed – aneurism.

Update (6:37 PST):

Fox News is reporting that surgery successfully removed a blood clot and bleeding is stopped in Senator Johnson’s brain.  But, it is uncertain whether more arteriovenous malformation remains and what area of the brain has been affected.  And if effects of the previous bleed will permanently impair the Senator or whether he will make a complete recovery.

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