Sen. Mitch McConnell Continues Recovery at Home

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky has been discharged from a rehabilitation center. He will now continue his recovery at home. McConnell, aged 84, was first admitted to the hospital on June 14 due to a fall. He later shared that he was undergoing physical therapy.

The former Senate leader has not specified when he will return to the Capitol. With the upcoming August recess, senators are expected to leave Washington soon. Voting in the Senate will likely pause for the next five weeks.

“On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business,” McConnell said in a statement released by his office.

Having had polio in early childhood, McConnell has long acknowledged some difficulty with walking and climbing stairs. The Office of the Attending Physician reported that McConnell has been undergoing a rigorous physical therapy and rehabilitation regimen. The therapy includes multiple daily sessions to rebuild his strength and help prevent future falls. He is committed to completing his seventh term, which ends in January.

McConnell’s absence is noticeable in the Senate. Recently, Republicans were unable to advance a farm bill out of committee. The committee’s chairman, Senator John Boozman from Arkansas, mentioned discussing the bill with McConnell earlier this week.

“I know how much he would have wanted to be here to advocate for Kentucky’s farmers and rural communities,” Boozman stated in the committee’s meeting.

There are concerns over McConnell’s health transparency. Democratic Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky recently urged McConnell to either demonstrate his fitness to serve after the hospital stay or consider resignation.