On Sunday, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky revealed that after being hospitalized for nearly a month, he is still unable to return to work at the Capitol. This is the first time he disclosed the reason for his recent absence from Senate votes. Previously, Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina passed away on Saturday night due to a sudden heart attack, shocking the political world in the United States.
In a lengthy statement released on Sunday evening, McConnell explained that he was hospitalized last month after a fall, related to residual effects from contracting polio during his childhood. He mentioned experiencing a momentary loss of consciousness and later developing mild pneumonia during his recovery period.
In an open letter to the voters of Kentucky, McConnell stated, “My doctors have confirmed that I have no fractures, no concussion. I did not have a heart attack or a stroke. I do not have a tumor or bleeding.”
However, McConnell acknowledged that it is still uncertain when he will be able to return to the Senate.
“While this is frustrating for me, the recovery process takes time. Based on the advice of my doctors, I am temporarily unable to return to the Senate chamber for voting,” McConnell said. “But rest assured, during this time, I will not cease handling those Senate matters that are crucial to you.”
Addressing why he had been out of the public eye for an extended period without explanation, McConnell noted, “Our generation often hesitates to share the vulnerabilities that come with aging.”
At 84 years old, this is McConnell’s first statement since being hospitalized in mid-June. Speculation about his health had been ongoing for several weeks.
Prior to McConnell’s statement, Graham’s sudden passing further raised concerns about the weakening of the Republican advantage in Senate votes.
Apart from the statement, McConnell’s office also released a photo showing McConnell lying in bed with his wife, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.
The statement also mentioned that McConnell has now been transferred from the hospital to a rehabilitation center for continued treatment.
McConnell had previously announced that he will retire at the end of this congressional term in January next year.