Jax Congressman John Rutherford "in good spirits" after medical emergency

Jacksonville Representative John Rutherford is conscious and alert after being taken to the hospital.

Our Washington Insider Jamie Dupree says Rutherford was on the House floor for a series of evening votes which began at 5:49pm.  He voted “Yes” on an amendment to the Regulatory Accountability Act.

Records from the House Clerk’s office show that he was there and voting for the first vote, but did not vote for the next ten House votes.  That is when he suffered his medical emergency in the Republican cloakroom, which is just off the floor, according to Dupree’s reporting.

Fox’s Chad Pergram reports Rutherford was taken on a stretcher from the GOP cloakroom to the hospital. Pergram reports the House Chaplain accompanied Rutherford from the elevator to the cloakroom.

Dupree says Florida Representative Neal Dunn, a surgeon from Panama City, helped attend to Rutherford as well.

Fellow freshman Congressman Al Lawson - the Democrat who took over for Corrine Brown - tells us he had spent a good part of the day with Rutherford and was surprised at what happened.

"I'm sure he'll be in ICU," Lawson added. "They have good health care here."

Lawson also noted that he and Rutherford had spent much of the day together and were scheduled to attend a bipartisan Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast this morning.

"I know this comes as a shock," Lawson noted. "He's such a fine gentleman. We have enjoyed working together. I'm just praying that everything goes OK and he comes out of this."

Former state representative Lake Ray - who ran and lost against Rutherford in November - says he was told by members of Florida Senator Marco Rubio's staff that Rutherford had been taken out of Capitol Hill on a stretcher and that he's in stable condition.

"John's a fighter and I expect to see him recover and be back to [being] a good representative for us," Ray stated.

A statement from Rutherford’s Chief of Staff, Kelly Simpson, says he did not suffer a heart attack, and is still being evaluated by doctors. He says Rutherford is “conscious, alert, and in good spirits”.

“The Rutherford family appreciates the prayers, thoughts, and support they have received this evening,” says Simpson’s statement.

Rutherford, a freshman Republican representing Florida’s Fourth Congressional District, succeeded longtime Jacksonville Representative Ander Crenshaw, who retired.

The 64-year-old Rutherford has lived in Jacksonville since 1958, and joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as a patrolman in 1974. He became Sheriff in 2003, a post he served for 12 years.

This is a developing story that will be updated as more information is available.