PROTECT CHILDREN IN AN IOWA SENATOR鈥橲 LIFE WAS PRACTICALLY SAVED BY ONE OF HER COLLEAGUES THIS AFTERNOON. KCCI HAS BEN KAPLAN IS HERE TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. BEN JODI LAURA, A POLITICAL REPORTER, BROKE THE NEWS. BURGESS EVERETT POSTED ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM THAT ATTENDEES TOLD HIM IOWA SENATOR JONI ERNST WAS CHOKING ON SOME FOOD AT SENATE LUNCH TODAY. THAT鈥橲 WHEN KENTUCKY SENATOR RAND PAUL PERFORMED THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER, EFFECTIVELY SAVING HER LIFE. ERNST, QUOTE TWEETED, USING THE INCIDENT TO TAKE A STAB AT LIBERAL POLICIES AND THEN THINK SENATOR PAUL ERNST OFFICE SAYS SHE鈥橲 DOING OKAY AND SENT US TO HER, QUOTE, TWEET FOR HER RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT. OUR SISTER STATION, WRAL, W-L-K-Y IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, IS REACHING OUT TO PAUL鈥橲 OFFICE. HE HAS NOT SAI
Sen. Rand Paul performed Heimlich maneuver on choking Sen. Joni Ernst during GOP lunch
![AP logo]()
Updated: 10:42 AM CST Dec 1, 2023
Republican senators were alarmed and relieved when they learned that their colleague Sen. Joni Ernst had choked during a party lunch on Thursday and was rescued by Sen. Rand Paul, who gave her the Heimlich maneuver.An aide to Ernst said the senator is OK.Ernst appeared to be making jokes about the experience on social media, tweeting, 鈥淐an鈥檛 help but choke on the woke policies Dems are forcing down our throats. Thanks @randpaul!鈥滶rnst was actually hosting the lunch as GOP senators rotate those chores for their Thursday lunches when they offer foods unique to their states. Ernst, from Iowa, served big pork chops and ribeyes.鈥淚 didn鈥檛 actually see it,鈥� said Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican of Texas. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had that happen one other time to one of our members. It鈥檚 kind of scary.鈥漌yoming Republican Cynthia Lummis said Paul, who is a doctor, and Ernst addressed the lunch after it happened and there was a discussion about how to notice someone is choking and that senators can get training to perform the Heimlich in the Capitol.鈥淕od bless Rand Paul. I never thought I would say that,鈥� quipped Sen. Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican who was not present when it happened.
WASHINGTON — Republican senators were alarmed and relieved when they learned that their colleague Sen. Joni Ernst had choked during a party lunch on Thursday and was rescued by Sen. Rand Paul, who gave her the Heimlich maneuver.
An aide to Ernst said the senator is OK.
Ernst appeared to be making jokes about the experience on social media, tweeting, 鈥淐an鈥檛 help but choke on the woke policies Dems are forcing down our throats. Thanks @randpaul!鈥�
Ernst was actually hosting the lunch as GOP senators rotate those chores for their Thursday lunches when they offer foods unique to their states. Ernst, from Iowa, served big pork chops and ribeyes.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 actually see it,鈥� said Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican of Texas. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had that happen one other time to one of our members. It鈥檚 kind of scary.鈥�
Wyoming Republican Cynthia Lummis said Paul, who is a doctor, and Ernst addressed the lunch after it happened and there was a discussion about how to notice someone is choking and that senators can get training to perform the Heimlich in the Capitol.
鈥淕od bless Rand Paul. I never thought I would say that,鈥� quipped Sen. Lindsay Graham, a South Carolina Republican who was not present when it happened.
