U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was recovering from a fractured right arm on Wednesday, the Pentagon said, after he slipped on an icy step at home Washington D.C. home. Spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters that Gates was treated at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center and returned to work later Wednesday. The injury was not expected to affect his schedule in the coming weeks. Gates suffered a fracture of his upper right humerus and has been fitted with a sling, Morrell said. “Fortunately, it does not appear as though his injury will require surgery,” the spokesman added. Because of the accident, Gates canceled a scheduled appearance Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill where he was to testify on the Pentagon's budget for the new fiscal year beginning October 1. Ice affected the entire region on Tuesday night. In Maryland, it forced polling officials to keep ballots open for an extra hour and half during a primary vote in the presidential nominee race.
