McConnell not medically cleared to return to Senate

Sen. Mitch McConnell is still not medically cleared to return to in-person work at the Capitol after a June fall left him hospitalized and sent him into rehabilitation, his office said Monday.

The Kentucky Republican, 84, said he is continuing physical therapy and will miss the annual Fancy Farm picnic in Kentucky this weekend, a major political event in his home state.

“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders,” McConnell said in a statement. “Unfortunately, that means I won’t be able to make it to Fancy Farm, Kentucky this Saturday.”

McConnell said there is “no place I’d rather be” than the picnic and added, “I hate that I’ll miss the fun this year.” He said he is “looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon.”

His office did not provide a timeline for his return. NBC News reported that McConnell has missed the last 38 votes on the Senate floor, based on its review. The Senate is scheduled to remain in session for the next two weeks before its summer recess.

The Office of the Attending Physician said in a statement released by McConnell’s office that the senator “continues his recovery from a fall at home in June.” The office said physicians visit McConnell every day and discuss “all aspects of his rehabilitation care.”

“Since his discharge from hospital care, he has maintained a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls,” the statement said. “His bout with childhood polio continues to be a significant factor in his mobility. He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office.”

McConnell was hospitalized June 14 after falling at his home. Monday’s update was the first from his team since July 12, when he disclosed more details about the incident. At that time, he said he had suffered a fall and was “briefly unconscious,” but said he had not had a heart attack or stroke and had no tumors or hemorrhages.

His office also released a new photo of McConnell with his wife, Elaine Chao.

McConnell, a longtime Senate Republican leader, is set to retire when his term expires at the end of this Congress. He is not running for re-election in November.