Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized for a month and his team won’t say why. Here’s what we know

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized for nearly a month, and it’s still unclear why he was hospitalized. What is the situation?

The Kentucky Republican’s aides were fiercely protective of his status, publicly and privately, throughout his hospitalization.

Despite requests for an update from CNN, his office did not disclose the medical reason for his hospitalization or provide details about his health beyond saying last week that he “continues to recover” and is “working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters.”

The lack of information triggered questions about McConnell’s health and led to speculation and rumors online that his health had significantly deteriorated.

A number of high-profile Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have issued statements in recent days suggesting they have spoken with McConnell. McConnell’s office noted the statements and said, “We will be sure to keep you updated as the Senator continues to recover.”

When was McConnell first hospitalized?

The 84-year-old former Senate majority leader was hospitalized Sunday morning, June 14th.

“Senator McConnell was hospitalized this morning. He is receiving excellent care,” spokesman David Popp said in a statement at the time. he said.

What’s the latest from your team?

McConnell’s office released a statement on July 2 saying he remained hospitalized. He either repeated this statement or pointed to it in response to subsequent questions.

A spokesperson said at the time: “Senator McConnell appreciates the support he has received as he continues his recovery in the hospital. The Senator continues to improve and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”

McConnell’s wife (former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao) was traveling to China, but her spokesperson told CNN, “The Senator’s health condition did not warrant immediate return to the United States.”

“The secretary was on a long-planned trip to China to support his family’s philanthropic efforts,” the spokesman said. “During the trip, he met with many people, including the US ambassador. The senator’s health condition did not require his immediate return to the US.”

Has anyone talked to him since he came to the hospital?

A number of high-profile Republicans said Tuesday they had recently spoken with McConnell.

A spokesman for Thune said the Senate majority leader spoke by phone with McConnell on Monday. “They had a long and comprehensive conversation covering a variety of issues, including national security,” the spokesman said.

Senate GOP Whip spokesman John Barrasso said he spoke with McConnell for about 20 minutes Tuesday and said the Kentucky Republican was “fully engaged and eager to come back to the Senate.”

“They caught up on the latest news affecting the Senate races, the Graham Platner scandal, and the recent Supreme Court decision on coordinated spending limits. They also discussed the Senate’s July study session, including the need to pass the NDAA and confirm President (Donald) Trump’s nomination to be Director of National Intelligence,” Barrasso spokeswoman Kate Noyes said in a statement. he said.

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings also reported on X on Tuesday that he spoke with McConnell about a variety of topics, including Iran, Ukraine and “a little bit of Senate history.”

He later told CNN’s Kasie Hunt on “The Arena” that McConnell “sounded strong” and that the senator appeared to be following the news.

Jennings said McConnell told him “he was feeling fine, obviously well enough to call me on the phone.” But he said he didn’t know why McConnell was hospitalized.

Thune and Barrasso also previously stated that they spoke with McConnell after he was hospitalized. But these talks did not end questions about his situation. On Wednesday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear a letter He called on McConnell to request that the senator “keep Kentuckians fully informed regarding the current status of your health.”

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday that he had not spoken to McConnell since the senator was hospitalized. “I have no idea what he’s like,” Trump said.

Do we know anything about what caused us to be hospitalized?

It is not yet known what led to the hospitalization.

Independent journalist Desiree Townsend shared an EMS audio recording on X at the beginning of this month He stated that emergency responders were called to McConnell’s home in Washington, D.C., for an “unconscious” person on the day he was hospitalized.

In the audio recording, the attendant says the call is for a “heart attack” and a paramedic can be heard saying “CPR is in progress.”

McConnell’s name is not mentioned in the recording, but it is known that the address to which paramedics responded belongs to him. CNN has not confirmed details about which dispatchers and paramedics are described in the audio.

Asked about the audio at the time, a McConnell spokesman said they would keep reporters updated on the senator’s condition.

Accordingly Video of the incident and testimony from an eyewitnessEmergency responders took McConnell on a stretcher to an ambulance after being called to his home.

Are there any known pre-existing health problems?

McConnell is a person who had polio in childhood. He has also faced a number of health problems in recent years. He suffered a pain in March 2023 had a concussion and broken ribs after a fall. Months later he froze mid sentence during a press conference. CNN later reported it crashed twice more earlier that year.

What’s happened in the Senate since he left?

During his hospitalization, McConnell missed some high-profile Senate votes, including passage of a major housing affordability bill. votes To check Trump’s ability to wage war in Iran. Trump ultimately did not sign housing billThe resolution passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate upon his symbolic protest and became law.

The chamber also took a recess due to part of McConnell’s hospitalization. The senators have been working in their home states since June 29 and will not return to D.C. until July 13.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

CNN’s Lauren Fox contributed to this report

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