Sen. Mitch McConnell shared a new update on his health on Monday, six weeks after he was initially hospitalized
In a statement released by his office, the 84-year-old lawmaker said that he was “still working hard to get back to [his] full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky,” and that he was still undergoing “intense physical therapy.” He added that he wouldn’t be able to attend an upcoming event in his home state, called Fancy Farm picnic
“There’s no place I’d rather be on the first Saturday in August than with the good people of western Kentucky, feasting on pork and mutton,” McConnell said. “As always, I appreciate all of your continued well wishes, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon.”
The statement was accompanied by a message from Congress’ Office of the Attending Physician (OAP), which said that its physicians “visit with the Senator every day, discussing all aspects of his rehabilitation care.”
“Since his discharge from hospital care, he has maintained a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls,” the office said. “His bout with childhood polio continues to be a significant factor in his mobility. He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office.”
McConnell was hospitalized on June 14. His office initially didn’t share any details of the Republican Senator’s condition, and his ensuing weeks-long absence from the upper chamber with little to no information from his office sparked speculation over McConnell’s health. The growing uncertainty prompted Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, to issue a public letter calling on McConnell to “fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of [his] health.”
“Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and wellbeing, and ability to hold office in the United States Senate,” Beshear wrote. “As public officeholders, we have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent. I believe this requires clear communication about one’s ability to serve.”
Four days later, the Senator revealed that he was hospitalized after a fall. He said that his doctors confirmed that he didn’t break any bones or sustain a concussion, nor did he suffer from any other more serious conditions, such as a heart attack or stroke
“But,” McConnell said, “I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia.”
“As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time,” he continued. “And on the advice of my doctors, I won’t be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet. But rest assured that, in the meantime, I’m not taking a break from the Senate business that matters to you.”
He went on to say that part of the reason he decided that he would retire in January, when his term comes to an end, “was being honest about the demands of Senate work.”
The Kentucky Senator has had several health scares before this one, including multiple falls in recent years
