Clinton recovering from concussion

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who canceled an overseas trip last week because of a stomach virus, suffered a concussion after she fainted, the State Department said Saturday.

Clinton, who has said she plans to step down from her post shortly, fainted after she became dehydrated because of the virus, the department said in a statement. She was recovering at home and being monitored by doctors.

“She will continue to work from home next week, staying in regular contact with department and other officials. She is looking forward to being back in the office soon,” the statement said.

Clinton had been scheduled to testify in congressional hearings Thursday on the Sept. 11 attack against a U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, which killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador. Instead, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Thomas Nides, the deputy secretary of state for management and resources, were expected to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Clinton was also set to appear the same day before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman, said in a statement that it was “unfortunate” that Clinton would miss the hearing, although she wished Clinton “a quick and full recovery.”

Ros-Lehtinen said the committee had “tough questions about State Department threat assessments and decision-making on Benghazi,” adding, “This requires a public appearance by the secretary of state herself.”