Photo: P.K. Weis/southwestphotobank.com for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords via Facebook

Photographs of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who was critically injured during a mass shooting in her home state in January, were posted on her Facebook page yesterday in an effort to keep the paparazzi at bay, said a spokesperson for the Congresswoman.

That spokesperson, C. J. Karamargin, told The New York Times, that there was word of a “bounty” for photos of Giffords as she leaves inpatient rehabilitation this month. Karamargin said he heard TMZ had offered $250,000 for photos, a claim that the gossip site’s founder Harvey Levin denies.

Last week it was reported that despite the unbelievable progress Giffords has made over the past months, her ability to communicate is still greatly impaired.

We wish her all the best for a continued recovery.