Mitch McConnell returns to Senate after three-month absence - bbc.com
US Senator Mitch McConnell has returned to the Senate following a three-month absence due to health issues, including a fall and pneumonia. The 84-year-old Republican leader expressed his commitment to fulfilling his duties during the final legislative stretch before the midterm elections.
Why it matters
As the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, McConnell's health and presence are critical to the legislative agenda and power dynamics in the US Congress.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu Washington Watch: Moment Mitch McConnell returns to Congress US Senator Mitch McConnell has returned to Congress for the first time since he was admitted to hospital after a fall three months ago.
"I'm really looking forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues," said the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican, before casting a vote on a judicial nomination.
McConnell's long absence provoked rampant speculation about his health, and demands from Democrats for transparency.
The longest serving party leader in Senate history, he has been in the Senate for 41 years.
"My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven't made it any easier," McConnell said on Monday.
"I'm still not quite back to 100%," he continued, adding that "I will do my best to be present for tough votes".
Also covering this story
8 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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