Texas Rep. Kay Granger has reportedly been found to be living in a memory care facility after being missing from the Capitol for six months.
Serving as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 12th congressional district for over the past two decades, 81-year-old Granger—who did not run for reelection in November and is set to retire January next year—hasn’t cast a vote in Washington D.C. since July, according to her roll call vote page.
With her absence sparking concern among local residents, The Dallas Express investigated Granger’s whereabouts and found that calls to her district and D.C. offices were sent directly to voicemail and that her constituency office appeared to be closed.
The newspaper then received a tip that Granger was living in a local memory care facility and assisted living home after having been found wandering lost and confused in her former neighborhood.
Reporters at The Dallas Express proceeded to visit the facility to vet the tip and found that Granger was indeed living there with two employees confirming her residence upon arrival. The Assistant Executive Director for the facility, Taylor Manziel, also confirmed the scoop and told the outlet: “This is her home.”
The Dallas Express was not permitted to conduct an interview with Granger however, though they were hoping to ask her how she intended to vote on the government spending bill that caused a rift in the House of Representatives earlier this week (a bill has since been passed and signed by President Joe Biden on Saturday).
Granger’s absence has also troubled other local officials with Tarrant County Republican Chairman Bo French telling The Dallas Express, “The lack of representation for CD-12 is troubling to say the least.
“At a time when extraordinarily important votes are happening, including debt ceiling, disaster relief, farm bills and border issues, Kay Granger is nowhere to be found,” he continued. “The margin in Congress is razor thin and the lack of a Republican vote representing CD-12 disenfranchises 2 million people. We deserve better.”
Notably, Granger posted a tribute to her congressional interns Friday on X writing, “I have been honored to have had the best congressional interns assisting me and my team!
“Thank you all for your great service to TX-12 over the years!,” she added alongside a group photo.
Granger and her staff will also remain on taxpayers’ payroll until Jan. 3.