Republican Mitch McConnell returns to U.S. Senate after 3-month absence
McConnell has been conspicuously absent since he suffered a fall June 11
Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky returned to the U.S. Senate on Monday for the first time since June 14, when he was hospitalized after a fall in his home.
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he → return → home
McConnell's three-month absence from the Senate generated a flood of criticism and online speculation, as the Kentucky senator initially remained quiet for weeks about his condition.
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senator → generate → condition
The 84-year-old senator eventually disclosed that he had been "briefly unconscious" due to the fall and had also been treated for mild pneumonia in the hospital.
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he → disclose → hospital
He briefly addressed reporters from his wheelchair outside the Senate chamber ahead of the vote, smiling but speaking slowly and with some difficulty.
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He → address → difficulty
McConnell joked that he wasn't sure how many reporters would be there after dodging so many questions during his almost two decades as leader.
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reporters → joke → leader
He said he was back in the Senate to work on a pending farm bill and because he has an ongoing interest in NATO and "backing up our good friends who are totally in the fight against the Russians."
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who → say → Russians
No video allowed
Reporters and photographers were told by Senate staff not to take video of his remarks in the second-floor hallway, even though video is often permitted in that area.
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video → allow → area
Still images were allowed.
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images → allow → ?
In a statement issued before his remarks, McConnell said, "my recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven't made it any easier."
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it → issue → polio
He went on to write, "I'm still not quite back to 100%, but I've assured Leader [John] 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."
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Conference → go → me
The concerns over McConnell's absence highlighted increasing public concern about the age of lawmakers and their capacity to carry out their duties.
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concerns → highlight → duties
Speculation about his condition grew so intense at one point that Kentucky's Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear took the extraordinary step of issuing a public letter asking McConnell to update the public in a "transparent manner."
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Beshear → grow → manner
McConnell's absence was also felt over the summer as Republicans were unable to advance a farm bill out of committee.
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Republicans → feel → committee
His return could give Republican leaders a needed vote as they try to advance legislation on cryptocurrency regulation and college sports.
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they → give → regulation
Late-night TV hosts skewer Mitch McConnell's proof-of-life photo
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell breaks silence, says he was hospitalized after a fall
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he → skewer → fall
McConnell, who holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Senate leader, is in his final months of his four decades in office.
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who → hold → office
He is retiring at the end of January after one of the most consequential careers in modern politics.
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He → retire → politics
Republicans have nominated U.S. Rep. Andy Barr to replace him, while Democrats have nominated former state lawmaker Charles Booker.
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Democrats → nominate → Booker
McConnell said he is determined to finish out his term.
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he → say → term
History of health problems
McConnell had polio in his early childhood and has long acknowledged difficulty as an adult in walking and climbing stairs.
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McConnell → have → stairs
The physician's office in Congress in the July statement said McConnell has "experienced several falls through the year" due to his "post-polio condition."
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McConnell → say → condition
The office said his physical therapy was aimed at reducing the risk of him falling again.
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him → say → risk
"A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined that he had no fractures, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, tumor, or hemorrhage," the physician's office said.
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office → determine → fractures
McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was the Republican leader from 2007 until last year , serving as both majority and minority leader during that period.
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McConnell → elect → period
He has remained active as a rank-and-file senator, showing up for work when the chamber is in session, often using a wheelchair to get around.
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chamber → remain → wheelchair
But the senator's physical condition has visibly declined in recent years.
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condition → decline → years
He was hospitalized with a concussion in March 2023 and missed several weeks of work after falling in a Washington hotel.
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He → hospitalize → hotel
He twice froze up during news conferences after he returned, staring vacantly ahead before colleagues and staff.
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he → freeze → colleagues
A year later, he fell and sprained his wrist while walking out of a Republican luncheon.
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he → fall → luncheon
The Aporia
