The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesman Michael Caputo has been diagnosed with cancer.
A statement on Thursday read, “After surgery last week at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, doctors diagnosed Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Caputo with squamous cell carcinoma, a metastatic head, and neck cancer which originated in his throat.”
“He is now home in Western New York, resting in the loving arms of his family, under the watchful eye of Jesus Christ,” the statement added.
Caputo announced on Sept. 16, that he would take a 60-day leave of absence to focus on “his health and the well-being of his family,” as IJR reported.
His leave came just six months after Caputo was installed in his position at HHS.
It was also days after Caputo came under fire for comments he made in a Facebook Live video, as IJR reported. During that video, he accused government scientists of sedition and trying to delay the development of a COVID-19 vaccine to hurt Trump politically.
He also claimed without evidence that “hit squads being trained all over this country” to kill supporters of President Donald Trump.
Shortly after his comments circulated, Caputo held an emergency staff meeting at HHS and apologized for them.
He also blamed his behavior on physical health issues and stress from receiving death threats against his family.
