Mitch McConnell was discharged from a rehabilitation center on Thursday and is now recovering at home, ending nearly two months of near total public silence from the 84-year-old Kentucky senator. In a statement released by his office, McConnell said he was grateful for the support he received during his stay and confirmed he plans to keep working from home while he heals.
“Earlier today, I was discharged from the rehabilitation center to continue my recovery at home. Elaine and I are grateful for the many well wishes and support from friends, colleagues, and Kentuckians, and for the attentive care I’ve received from excellent doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff,” McConnell said.
He added that his medical team wants him to keep up an intense physical therapy schedule even after leaving the facility.
“On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business,” he said.
The update caps off a health saga that started June 14, when McConnell was hospitalized after a fall at his Washington home. According to CNN, his office did not disclose the reason for the hospitalization at the time, and the senator was not seen in public again for weeks. Police scanner audio indicated paramedics had responded to reports of a cardiac arrest at McConnell’s address, though his office never publicly confirmed that detail.
It wasn’t until July that McConnell addressed his condition directly.
“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia,” he said at the time, before revealing he had been moved to a rehab facility to rebuild his strength.
The extended silence fueled speculation that ranged from reasonable concern to wild online rumor, including unverified claims that McConnell was incapacitated. His office pushed back by releasing photos of him with his wife, Elaine Chao, inside the rehab facility. The mystery around his prolonged absence raised real questions about his ability to serve out the rest of his term, which runs through January 2027. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, went as far as calling on McConnell to either explain his absence publicly or step aside.
Now discharged and back in Kentucky, Mitch McConnell has not given a firm timeline for returning to the Capitol. According to NBC News, he has missed more than 50 Senate floor votes since his hospitalization began, including high profile confirmation votes. The senator, who is not seeking reelection and previously served as the longest running Senate party leader in American history, says he intends to stay engaged with Senate business remotely while he continues physical therapy at home.
Whether that remote engagement turns into an actual return to the Senate floor before his term ends remains the open question hanging over Capitol Hill.
