
Sen. Mitch McConnell said he was briefly unconscious after a fall, but no heart attack or stroke. He is recovering from pneumonia at a rehab center, his doctor confirmed.
Sen. Mitch McConnell ended weeks of silence Sunday with a statement on his health, saying he was briefly unconscious after a fall last month but did not suffer a heart attack or stroke.
The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican, the former Senate majority leader, said in the statement that he was taken to a hospital on June 14 after the fall. He added that he has no tumors or hemorrhages. McConnell did say he developed a mild case of pneumonia after being transferred from the hospital to a rehabilitation center, where he is regaining strength.
His office had disclosed little about his condition since announcing the hospitalization in late June, other than that he was improving and working with staff. The lack of specifics fueled speculation, especially after audio of emergency services radio traffic indicated paramedics were called to his residence for a possible cardiac arrest and that a person there needed resuscitation.
On Wednesday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called on McConnell to give constituents an update.
The health update came hours after Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died suddenly, though McConnell's statement did not mention Graham.
Along with the statement, McConnell's office released quotes from his attending physician. The doctor said the senator has experienced several falls throughout the year, attributed to his post-polio condition. The physician confirmed McConnell was admitted to the hospital four weeks ago after falling at home and sustaining minor injuries.
"A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined that he had no fractures, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, tumor, or hemorrhage," the statement read. "Early in his hospitalization, he developed pneumonia, which responded rapidly to antibiotic treatment. The remainder of his hospital stay focused on physical therapy and strategies to reduce his risk of future falls. He has been medically cleared to continue fully participating in his intensive physical therapy program."
McConnell, who is set to retire at the end of his current term, said he is not taking a break from Senate business and is working closely with legislative staff on current issues.
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