politics
McConnell Absent From Senate for Over a Month After June Fall and Pneumonia
Sen. Mitch McConnell has been absent from the Senate for more than a month after a fall at his Washington home in June. The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican was hospitalized and later developed pneumonia. Sen. Josh Hawley called for greater transparency from McConnell's team.
Jul 19, 4:00 AM·1m read1 source
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Sen. , home in June 2026. Fox News reported that the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican was hospitalized following the incident and later developed pneumonia. McConnell attributed the fall to mobility issues stemming from childhood polio in an open letter to Kentuckians.
He stated that doctors advised he would not be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet. McConnell added that he has every intention of finishing the job Kentuckians elected him to do and pledged to keep constituents updated on his recovery. Sen.
Told Fox News Digital that McConnell and his team have an obligation to constituents to disclose what is going on with his health. Hawley said he has been totally in the dark about McConnell's condition and never had any idea about any of his health issues.
Hawley noted that the absence leaves Senate Republicans down two crucial votes amid efforts to advance parts of President Donald Trump's agenda.
He said the lack of votes is hurting priorities such as the voter integrity measure and the SAVE America Act. Hawley, a proponent of term limits, pointed to 92-year-old Sen. Chuck Grassley as an example of a sharp colleague but reiterated his support for a constitutional amendment limiting terms.
McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and is completing his seventh term.
