Sen. Mitch McConnell is still not medically cleared to return to Congress as the longtime Kentucky Republican continues recovering at a rehabilitation facility more than six weeks after a serious fall.
McConnell, 84, has been in a rehabilitation facility since leaving the hospital after falling inside his Washington, D.C., home on June 14. The accident left him briefly unconscious, and doctors later diagnosed him with pneumonia.
In an update released Monday, the Office of the Attending Physician said doctors continue to meet with McConnell every day as he works through an intensive rehabilitation program.
“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 OAP 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.”
The latest update means Mitch McConnell will remain away from the Senate as questions continue to swirl over his health and when he will be able to resume his duties.
In a separate statement, McConnell said he remains focused on returning to work and continues to undergo rigorous rehabilitation.
“I am working to hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky” and continues to have “intense physical therapy per my doctor’s orders.”
The veteran lawmaker also announced he will miss Kentucky’s annual Fancy Farm picnic, one of the state’s biggest political traditions.
“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. “When I first attended forty-two years ago, Fancy Farm was a pretty lonely place to be a Republican. But, my, how times have changed. Today, western Kentucky is a conservative Republican sea of red. So I hate that I’ll miss the fun this year, but I’m sending my best wishes to the St. Jerome community for a successful picnic. 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.”
McConnell’s extended absence has fueled renewed calls for greater transparency about his condition.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has repeatedly urged the senator to provide more direct updates, suggesting McConnell could call into television news programs or release a video addressing Kentuckians.
“I think there’s some elected officials who don’t view themselves as having a boss, we do,” Beshear added. “It’s the people of Kentucky, [who] deserve to see a little bit more and hear a little bit more about how the senator is doing.”
