McConnell says a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking weeks of silence about health condition
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Mitch McConnell On Sunday it was revealed for the first time that a fall led to his hospitalisation, breaking the silence about his condition after weeks of treatment. increased speculation About the Kentucky Republican’s health.
McConnell, 84, said in a statement that he, too, had a mild case of pneumonia and was undergoing a series of tests as doctors tried to determine what caused his fall. She explained the four-week silence about her condition: “People in my generation are often reluctant to share the vulnerability that comes with aging.”
“Even in the public eye, I feel the same instinct; I can’t help it,” he said.
McConnell said he is currently in a rehab facility and will not return to the Senate “yet.” In the meantime, he said he continues to work with his staff on Senate business.
The statement included a photo of the senator smiling with his wife, Elaine Chao; This was a veiled response to online speculation that McConnell was dead or incapacitated.
McConnell had provided little information since he was hospitalized on June 14; his office insisted only that he “received excellent care” and was recovering. Speculation about his situation has become so intense that Kentucky’s Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear took the extraordinary step of issuing a public letter asking McConnell to keep the public informed “transparently.”
McConnell retire at the end of term of office In January, after one of the most important careers in modern politics. Republicans nominated U.S. Rep. Andy Barr to replace him, while Democrats nominated former state lawmaker Charles Booker.
McConnell has a history of health problems
McConnell had polio in his early childhood and has long acknowledged as an adult that he had some difficulty walking and climbing stairs.
The congressional physician’s office said in a statement Sunday that McConnell “experienced multiple falls throughout the year” due to his “post-polio condition.” His physical therapy is aimed at reducing his risk of falling again, the office said.
“A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined that the patient had no fractures, heart abnormalities, strokes, tumors, or bleeding,” the doctor’s office said. he said.
McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and has been the Republican leader since 2007. until last yearDuring this period, he served as both majority and minority leader. He has remained active as a rank-and-file senator, coming to work when the legislature is in session and often using a wheelchair to get around.
However, the senator’s physical condition has noticeably declined in recent years.
he was hospitalized He suffered a concussion in March 2023 and missed several weeks of work after crashing in a hotel in Washington. After his return, he froze twice during press conferences and stared blankly in front of colleagues and staff. A year later he he fell and sprained his ankle As he leaves the GOP luncheon.
