US Senator Mitch McConnell, 84, revealed on 12/7 that his weeks-long absence was due to a series of medical tests investigating the cause of an earlier fall.
"I have had every test possible to figure out what caused it. My doctors have confirmed that I did not suffer a fractured bone or a concussion. I did not have a heart attack or a stroke. I do not have a tumor or a blood clot. I was, however, briefly unconscious and taken to the hospital", McConnell said, adding that he had mild pneumonia.
Addressing his silence during that period, McConnell explained, "People of my generation often hesitate to share the frailties that come with old age".
"Even in public, I feel the same way, so there was no way I could do otherwise", he said.
The US senator stated he is currently in a rehabilitation center and will not return to the Senate "immediately". He added that he continues to work with his staff on Senate affairs during this time. McConnell, a Republican, is the chair of the Senate Rules Committee.
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US Senator Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao in a photo posted on 12/7. Photo: Office of Mitch McConnell |
McConnell's announcement included a smiling photo with his wife, Elaine Chao, a subtle response to online speculation that he had died or suffered cognitive decline. In the photo, he holds a newly published newspaper from 12/7.
The US senator was hospitalized on 14/6, and his office provided limited information for several weeks, only confirming he was receiving excellent care and recovering.
As his hospitalization extended, public speculation about his health intensified. The situation grew so tense that Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged Senator McConnell to provide "transparent" updates on his health to the public.
McConnell's statement followed the unexpected passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, a fellow Republican, on the evening of 11/7.
Before McConnell's office announced the reason for his prolonged absence, Democratic Senator Cory Booker expressed concern and wished him well. However, Booker also added that "many people don't know when to properly withdraw", a clear allusion to his colleague's age.
Ngoc Anh (According to Reuters, Guardian, AFP)
