Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health: Here’s what you need to know
Sen. Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized three weeks later. USA TODAY’s Melina Khan reports on what we know and what we don’t know.
Sen. Mitch McConnell broke his public silence on his health on July 12, saying a fall and subsequent bout with pneumonia has kept him away from the Senate for about a month.
The Kentucky Republican said in a statement to voters that he “temporarily lost consciousness” after the fall and was admitted to a hospital where he underwent extensive testing and treatment. McConnell, 84, said he has since been moved from the hospital to a rehabilitation center and is continuing physical therapy to “continue to regain his strength.”
“Doctors made sure I didn’t have any broken bones or concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or stroke. I didn’t have a tumor or any bleeding,” McConnell said. 「しかし、私は一時的に意識を失い、病院に運ばれました。」
The senator acknowledged questions from constituents about his absence and attributed some of his health problems to the after-effects of childhood polio.
“Surviving childhood polio meant spending a lifetime with limited mobility,” he said. 「年齢を重ねても管理が簡単になったわけではありません。」
The update provides the first detailed explanation of McConnell’s condition after weeks of limited public information about his hospitalization. This also follows the July 11 death of South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, whose office announced that preliminary tests determined he died of an aortic dissection caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Mr. Graham’s death and Mr. McConnell’s prolonged absence due to health issues have placed increased attention on the health of some of the Senate’s longest-serving members.
McConnell has had several falls this year related to post-polio symptoms and was hospitalized on June 14 after suffering minor injuries in a fall at home, according to his physician’s office.
A statement from the doctor’s office shared by McConnell’s office said the medical team performed a comprehensive examination and found “no fractures, heart abnormalities, strokes, tumors, or bleeding.”マコーネルさんは入院初期に肺炎を発症したが、抗生物質による治療ですぐに反応した。
“The remainder of his hospital stay focused on physical therapy and strategies to reduce his risk of future falls,” the doctor’s office said, adding that McConnell was medically cleared to continue full participation in an intensive physical therapy program.
McConnell was hospitalized on June 14th. The first publicly available emergency call indicated a person at the scene was unconscious. Another call a few minutes later revealed someone in cardiac arrest. Mr. McConnell’s office would not confirm or deny that he was involved in the call.
McConnell’s office said the senator’s health continued to improve after his hospitalization, and several Senate colleagues, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, said they had spoken with McConnell in recent days.
“On the advice of my doctors, I am not yet able to return to the Senate floor to vote,” he said in a July 12 statement.
Despite his absence, McConnell said he and his staff continue to work on legislative issues, voter services and Senate business. He said he remains in close contact with “my colleagues in the Senate on the appropriations process, midterm politics, and everything in between.”
McConnell announced earlier this year that he would step down from office when his term expires in January 2027, but said he still intends to serve out the remainder of his Senate term.
“I still have work to accomplish for you, and I intend to accomplish the task you have appointed me to do,” he added. 「できるだけ早く上院議場に戻れるよう、引き続き努力していきます。」
