US Rep. Elijah Cummings passed away this morning at 2:45am “due to complications concerning longstanding health challenges,” said a statement from Cumming’s office.
The Office of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings Released the Following Statement:
Baltimore, MD (October, 17, 2019) – At approximately 2:45 A.M. on Thursday October 17, 2019, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) passed away at Johns Hopkins Hospital due to complications concerning longstanding health challenges. More details will be forthcoming.”
Cummings was known as a former state lawmaker and attorney who was first elected to his seat in 1996. After the Democrats won the House in the 2018 elections, he became the committee chairman, and recently oversaw the Michael Cohen hearing.
During that hearing, Cumming offered a moment of grace, speaking directly to Cohen. He said, “You come saying I have made my mistakes, but now I want to change my life,” he said. “And you know, if we … as a nation did not give people an opportunity after they’ve made mistakes to change their lives, a whole lot of people would not do very well.”
Elijah Cummings was known for being thoughtful with his words, and his actions. He served for 14 years in the Maryland House of Delegates, and was the first African American in Maryland history to be named Speaker Pro Temp.
Over recent years, Elijah Cummings had suffered various health issues and relied on a wheelchair to get around, and would use a walker to brace himself to enable him to stand.
He underwent an aortic valve replacement surgery in 2017, which led to an infection that required hospitalization. He also suffered a knee infection, but his health was said to have recovered over the past summer.
This week, Elijah Cummings underwent a medical procedure and didn’t report to his office as expected. He was most recently known for his role as a key figure in the impeachment investigation of President Trump.
He called Trump’s efforts to block congressional lines of inquiry “far worse than Watergate.”, and spent his final months sparring with the President while serving in Congress.
