Mitch McConnell not yet medically cleared to leave rehab facility

Mitch McConnell not yet medically cleared to leave rehab facility

Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has not yet been medically cleared to leave the rehabilitation facility where he is receiving physical therapy, according to a statement released Monday by the congressional Office of the Attending Physician (OAP).

The update follows the 84-year-old senator's hospitalization on June 14. While his office did not immediately disclose the cause of that admission, McConnell revealed weeks later that he had suffered a fall. The lack of early transparency fueled public speculation regarding his condition, leading Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to formally request in early July that McConnell provide a full update on his health to the people of Kentucky.

The OAP stated that McConnell has been discharged from the hospital but remains under their care, with physicians visiting him every day to discuss his rehabilitation. Since leaving the hospital, the senator has undergone a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, which consists of multiple sessions daily intended to rebuild strength and lower the risk of further falls.

Medical officials noted that McConnell's history with childhood polio remains a significant factor in his mobility. This hospitalization is the most recent in a series of health challenges for the senator, which have included two instances where he appeared to freeze during press conferences and multiple previous falls. He has long acknowledged that polio caused him difficulty with climbing stairs and walking as an adult.

Due to his ongoing recovery, McConnell announced in a written statement that he will miss the annual Fancy Farm picnic in western Kentucky this Saturday. The political tradition dates back to the 1800s and features speeches from politicians seeking office.

"There’s no place I’d rather be on the first Saturday in August than with the good people of western Kentucky, feasting on pork and mutton,"

Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senator, via official statement

McConnell recalled that when he first attended the event 42 years ago, the picnic was a lonely place for Republicans, but described the region today as a conservative Republican sea of red. He added that he is still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky and expressed his desire to return to office and his home state soon.

While McConnell intends to finish his current term, which ends in January, he is not seeking reelection. In 2024, the Kentucky Legislature removed the authority of the governor to select a temporary replacement. Consequently, if McConnell were to leave office more than 90 days before the November midterm election, Governor Beshear would be required to call a special election to fill the remainder of the term.