| U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft was discharged from a Washington hospital on Sunday after an operation this week to remove his gallbladder. "The Ashcrofts are grateful for the many friends and well wishers who kept them in their thoughts and prayers during this illness," the Justice Department said in a statement. "They would also like to thank people for respecting the attorney general's need for quiet rest as he continues to recover." A department spokesman could not say when Ashcroft will return to work. That decision would be up to his doctors, but Deputy Attorney General James Comey will run the Justice Department until Ashcroft returns, the department said. Doctors found several gallstones after Ashcroft checked into George Washington Hospital 10 days ago with a severe case of gallbladder pancreatitis. His gallbladder was removed to prevent a recurrence of the illness, which is extremely painful and can be life-threatening. |