Mitch McConnell breaks silence on health rumours revealing he fell unconscious after nasty fall as he shares smiling pic

SENATOR Mitch McConnell has revealed a fall led to his hospitalisation, ending almost a month of speculation over his health. The Republican was rushed to hospital on June 14, fuelling rumours and fears about the extent of the 84-year-old’s condition. Breaking his silence on Sunday, McConnell said in a statement: “Folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older. “Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct — I can’t help it.” Kentucky’s longest-serving senator said he has undergone a series of tests to try and identify the cause of his fall. Doctors confirmed McConnell had not broken any bones or suffered a concussion after his nasty fall. Read More US News “But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to hospital”, he said. While receiving care, the senator said he also dealt with a “mild case” of pneumonia. The statement included a smiling picture of the senator with his wife Elaine Chao. The statement added: “When you elected me to a seventh term and made me our Commonwealth’s longest serving Senator, you did so trusting that I’d keep showing up to fight for you every day. Most read in The Sun “And over the past several weeks, Elaine and I have appreciated both your well wishes and your honest questions about what was keeping me away from the Senate.” McConnell was taken to hospital just months after a separate eight-day stay that was triggered by flu-like symptoms. A video obtained by CNN from June 14 appeared to show the senator being loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher by emergency responders who were called to his address for a report of an unconscious person. In the clip, a person, whose face cannot be seen, is being wheeled on a stretcher into the back of the ambulance with their lower legs covered by a blanket. The Republican’s team gave little away throughout his absence, stating only that the senator was “receiving excellent care” and “continuing to improve.” High-profile Republicans like Senate Majority Leader John Thune have rallied around McConnell saying they have recently spoken with him and that his “voice sounded strong.” But Democrat Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear ramped up calls this weekend for his team to be transparent about the state of his health. Beshear demanded McConnell “provide voters an update on his own health” to “end the crazy speculation and just tell us what’s going on”. It came after some unsubstantiated theories went as far as to claim he is secretly brain dead. The Governor had previously issued an open letter to the senator saying, “Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and well-being, and ability to hold office.” Congress is due to return to Capitol Hill next week following early July recess. “As you can imagine, we have been receiving lots of messages from folks, and as the senator continues to recover, we will be sure to keep you updated,” a spokesperson said Saturday. McConnell confirmed in February 2024 that he will not run for reelection and will retire when his term ends in January 2027. He has had a string of health concerns in recent times including two falls at the Capitol last February which saw him being taken away in a wheelchair, with his team blaming “lingering effects of polio in his leg.” That back-to-back incident came just weeks after he had another tumble that left him bloodied and bruised. Back in March 2023, he suffered a concussion and a fractured rib in a terrifying fall at a dinner in Washington DC and sparked further concern that summer when he froze up twice during news conferences. During a briefing at the Capitol, he suddenly stopped speaking and stared straight ahead at assembled cameras and reporters for 19 seconds. Breaking News… More to Come…