US Senator Mitch McConnell says absence due to fall and pneumonia
US Senator Mitch McConnell has confirmed he is recovering from a fall and a mild case of pneumonia. He remains in a rehabilitation center and has not yet returned to the Senate.
Why it matters
The health status of high-ranking political figures is a matter of public interest, particularly regarding legislative continuity.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Ana Faguy Washington Office of Mitch McConnell McConnell released a photo of himself with his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, alongside Sunday's statement US Senator Mitch McConnell says he will not be returning to the Senate "quite yet" after suffering from a fall and "a mild case of pneumonia".
It is the first statement from the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican after weeks of speculation about his health, following his admission to hospital in mid-June.
A photo was released by his office, in addition to the statement, which shows McConnell with his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, holding what appeared to be Sunday's Washington Post newspaper.
He said he was "briefly unconscious" after his fall and taken to hospital, where he had "submitted to every test they can think of to help figure out what caused this incident".
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