GOP Majority Leader Has Leukemia!

Far right Republican has cancer.

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), a controversial Republican lawmaker who currently serves as the House Majority Leader confirms he is diagnosed with leukemia, a known blood cancer. The Republican survived a mass shooting in 2017 when a white terrorist shot at him and other lawmakers during a practice session of their Congressional Honorary Baseball game.

Scalise's district is a gerrymandered mess. The 1st Congressional District covers Slidell, Metairie, Kenner, Houma, Hammond, French Louisiana and a sliver of New Orleans.

Louisiana state Republicans refuse to redraw their Congressional District maps despite the Supreme Court ruling against the state and Alabama. Most of the Parishes Scalise's district covers have a 45% Black population.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) were informed.

“After a few days of not feeling like myself this past week, I had some blood work done. The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer," he said in a statement.

“I have now begun treatment, which will continue for the next several months. I expect to work through this period and intend to return to Washington, continuing my work as Majority Leader and serving the people of Louisiana’s First Congressional District," Scalise, 57, continued.

Congress has been on a monthlong August recess and is expected to return next month.

“I am incredibly grateful we were able to detect this early and that this cancer is treatable," Scalise's statement continued. "I am thankful for my excellent medical team, and with the help of God, support of my family, friends, colleagues, and constituents, I will tackle this with the same strength and energy as I have tackled past challenges.” 

Scalise was gravely wounded in a mass shooting at a congressional baseball practice in 2017. He was shot in the hip and the bullet ruptured several organs, which required multiple operations. His injuries took him away from the House floor for three months and he continues to walk with a limp.

McCarthy said on X that he spoke to Scalise Tuesday and "he's in good spirits."

Scalise, McCarthy wrote, "is a dear friend, and anyone who knows him knows he’s a faith-filled fighter who can overcome any obstacle that stands in his way. ... Nothing—not a gunshot and certainly not cancer—will stop him from accomplishing what he sets his mind to."

Scalise once referred himself to being "David Duke without the baggage."

Before he joined politics, he appeared at white nationalist events. Scalise called his appearance before the European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO) — an extremist group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke — a “mistake I regret” and added that he rejected the organization’s racist ideology.