Topline
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., returned to the Senate on Monday, ending a three-month-long absence that became the subject of criticism, questions and conspiracies after he was hospitalized for a fall at his home in June.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY, arrives for a vote at the U.S. Capitol.
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Key Facts
The 84-year-old Senator issued a statement on Monday afternoon saying he will cast his first Senate vote since his “bad fall back in June.”
McConnell arrived in a wheelchair and took part in a vote on a federal appeals court nominee—his first vote on the Senate floor since June.
McConnell spoke to reporters in the hallway before casting his vote, but Senate staff barred them from recording the remarks on video.
Some reporters noted that the senator appeared and sounded frailer than before.
McConnell joked that he was glad to see so many reporters after his “two decades” of “dodging” their questions.
The senator said he was focused on working on the “farm bill” and has an “ongoing issue in NATO and backing up our good friends” who are fighting the Russians—presumably a reference to Ukraine.
Crucial Quote
In his statement, McConnell wrote: “My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven’t made it any easier. I’m still not quite back to 100%, but I’ve assured Leader Thune that, as I continue with physical therapy on the advice of my doctors, I will do my best to be present for tough votes when our Conference needs me.”
Tangent
Although reporters were not allowed to take videos of McConnell during his remarks, he did appear in the Senate’s video feed. The senator was greeted by his colleagues on the floor of the chamber, but he remained in his wheelchair.
key background
McConnell was found unconscious at his home on June 14 and was taken to a local hospital in an Advanced Life Support ambulance. According to NBC News, police scanner audio suggested EMS conducted CPR on a person at the address experiencing “cardiac arrest” that day. After several weeks of silence, which prompted speculation and conspiracies, McConnell eventually issued a statment with a photo of himself sitting up in a hospital bed and his wife Elaine Chao standing beside him. The senator said he was hospitalized after a fall caused by “mobility challenges” stemming from his childhood polio. McConnell noted that he didn’t suffer from any broken bones, concussion, heart attack or had any “tumors or hemorrhages.” The senator then said he had to deal with a “mild case of pneumonia,” during his hospital stint.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrived in a wheelchair.
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Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to the press at the U.S. Capitol.
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While photos were allowed, reporters were barred from recording video of McConnell’s remarks.
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further reading
McConnell Staff Tells Senators They Expect He’ll Return Next Week (Forbes)
Kentucky Gov. Says McConnell Should Call In For TV Interview As Photos Have ‘Stoked Speculation’ (Forbes)
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