More details emerge on Scalia's health and death; which friend accompanied him to Texas?
Texas officials are releasing more details about Justice Antonin Scalia’s health and death that support their decision not to perform an autopsy.
Justice Antonin Scalia suffered from coronary artery disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, degenerative joint disease, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, obesity and other health problems, report the Associated Press and USA Today, which included details from the AP story.
Those ailments probably contributed to Scalia’s death, the letter said. Presidio County District Attorney Rod Ponto read parts of the letter to the Associated Press to show there was nothing suspicious about the death.
Reporters covering the court were aware Scalia was overweight and a smoker, and that he had minor shoulder surgery in 2003. Journalists did not know of the other health issues. Scalia was 79 when he died at the visiting Cibolo Creek Ranch, a resort in West Texas, for a hunting trip. His body was found in his room on Feb. 13 after he did not show up for breakfast.
The Washington Post, meanwhile, is citing new details about the discovery of Scalia’s body from an incident report by the Presidio County Sheriff’s office. Scalia’s body was in bed, his head raised atop three stacked pillows. The sheets and pillows “were still in the creased position from that day’s room service, indicating that there was no struggle involved,” the report said.
An unused breathing machine was beside Scalia’s bed. His suitcase was open, and its contents were “neatly folded.” A blue exercise band was on a kitchen counter. A closed briefcase was on a recliner.
When Presidio County Sheriff Danny Dominguez arrived at the ranch, he was greeted by property owner John Poindexter, a Texas millionaire businessman, and “Allen Foster,” a close friend of Scalia’s, according to the incident report.
The Washington Post was unable to determine whether the friend is C. Allen Foster, described as “a prominent Washington lawyer who has argued before the Supreme Court.”
Hat tip to How Appealing.
Subsequent coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Scalia was at Texas ranch with members of secretive hunting society and a GOP lawyer”
Updated on Feb. 25 to clarify last two paragraphs and to link to subsequent coverage.
