(JTA) — U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) has been told of the identities of those killed in a shooting attack during a meet-the-constituents event at which she was also shot.
Jared Loughner opened fire Jan. 8 at the event in Tucson, killing 6, including a long-time Giffords aide and a 9-year-old girl. Giffords, who was shot in the head and has been in recovery since, had not been deemed strong enough following her own traumatic injury to learn more details about the attack.
She was informed of the identities of the victims late last month, just before she returned to Congress to vote on raising the federal debt ceiling, the Arizona Republic reported over the weekend.
A Giffords aide told the newspaper that the congresswoman was "deeply saddened" by the information.
Giffords, the first Jewish woman elected from her state to a federal office, was released from the hospital in June but returns every day for speech, music, physical and occupational therapy. Her neurosurgeon has cleared her for a reelection bid. It is not yet clear whether or not she will seek re-election.
