It’s been more than six weeks since former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital for treatment.Following his June 14 admission, his office has released a couple of still photos of him and his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, but no video of the Kentucky Republican – and no date when the 84-year-old will be returning to his duties to serve out his current term before retiring in January.
The Office of the Attending Physician and McConnell’s Senate office said in a joint statement Monday that the Kentucky Republican has not yet met the medical criteria necessary to leave the rehabilitation facility where he has been receiving daily physical therapy since being hospitalized.
The statement claimed that McConnell’s childhood battle with polio, which he contracted at age 2, continues to significantly affect his mobility.
McConnell has now missed 38 Senate floor votes, according to the Washington Examiner.
His absence has taken on added significance in a Senate where Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority.
Following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) earlier this year from heart complications, the GOP’s working majority has at times been reduced to 51-47, leaving little room for defections on closely contested legislation or presidential nominations.
That said, Darline Graham Nordone, the late senator’s sister, has since been sworn in to serve out his current term, which expires in January.
She has reportedly said she would run for the seat, and if so, would have President Trump’s backing.
McConnell was injured after falling at his Washington, D.C., home on June 14.
Emergency dispatchers initially believed he may have been experiencing a cardiac event, but McConnell later said he had not suffered a heart attack, stroke, concussion, or broken bones, per a statement issued by his office.
During his hospitalization, however, he developed pneumonia, a complication that prolonged his recovery and prompted additional questions about the extent of his medical condition, the statement claimed.
Breitbart noted that McConnell has been undergoing multiple physical therapy sessions per day, a pace “designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls.”
On Monday, McConnell’s office put out a statement allegedly from the senator addressing his ongoing treatment.
“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders,” the statement said.
Not everyone is convinced, however, that McConnell is ‘recovering’ and will return to his duties.
In fact, the governor of his state, Democrat Any Beshear, has twice demanded McConnell show more convincing proof of life, with the latest coming earlier this week.
In a letter sent Monday to McConnell and his staff, Beshear insisted on greater transparency after the senator’s prolonged absence.
The letter, first reported by Axios, was also copied to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
“I understand anyone’s desire for privacy, but when you run for office and serve as one of a state’s two U.S. senators, you willingly abdicate much of your personal privacy,” Beshear’s letter said.
“That’s the deal, and we all know it when we run,” Beshear added.
The governor noted further that speculation over McConnell’s health “could be avoided with the minimal amount of transparency.”
He further stated: “As Governor of the state you serve, I am calling on you to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign.”
Beshear addressed the letter directly to McConnell “under the assumption that he is capable of reading and responding verbally, and not incapacitated by any means of consciousness or cognition.”
If not, he demanded McConnell’s Senate staff be “honest and transparent with the people of Kentucky.”
Beshear previously urged Senate GOP Leader John Thune to investigate McConnell’s fitness to serve.