U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, his arm in a sling, rides down the escalator to the Senate subway on Dec. 14, 2021. To the left is his communications director, Francisco Pelayo.

His Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing had ended and a vote awaited, so Robert Menendez darted to the U.S. Capitol to reach the Senate floor.

But en route, the New Jersey senator slipped getting onto the subway and crashed to the floor, fracturing and dislocating his right shoulder, the side he writes with. He said he expected to be on the injury list for at least six weeks and might need surgery.

“It’s called being too responsible, all to get to the vote and to get to another hearing,” Menendez said. “The hearings will always be there and the votes will always be there. Good lesson.”

Despite being in pain and walking around with his arm in a sling, Menendez didn’t miss the next votes. Then he stopped to tell waiting reporters that negotiations continued to address the federal deduction for state and local taxes.

“I’m going to survive and I’m one tough son of a bitch, so this too will pass,” he said afterwards.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JDSalant.

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