Kentucky Republican pledges to attend tough votes while continuing physical therapy
Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell returned to the U.S. Capitol on Monday and cast his first Senate vote since mid-June, ending a months-long absence that followed a fall his office said hospitalized him.
The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican has been away from the Senate since mid-June. His office said at the time that he had suffered a fall, and he was discharged from a rehabilitation center last month.
“Today, I’ll cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June,” McConnell said in a written statement. “I’m really looking forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues.”
McConnell described his recovery as “a long and often frustrating process” and said the lingering effects of childhood polio had not made it easier. He said he remained “still not quite back to 100%.”
McConnell said he had assured “Leader Thune” that he would “do my best to be present for tough votes when our conference needs me” while continuing physical therapy on the advice of his doctors.
His absence from the chamber, which lasted nearly three months, fueled widespread public speculation about his health and his capacity to continue serving in the Senate.
“Elaine and I are very grateful for all the continued well wishes from our fellow Kentuckians, and I’m glad to get back to more of business as usual on their behalf this month,” McConnell said.