Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday that he has received no response from Sen. Mitch McConnell after sending formal letters last month requesting updates on the Republican senator's health during a hospitalization that began June 14.
Kentucky Gov. Beshear says McConnell has not responded to health update requests
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday that he has received no response from Sen. Mitch McConnell after sending formal letters last month requesting updates on the Republican senator's health during a hospitalization that began June 14.
McConnell, 84, and his staff shared little information about his condition for weeks following the hospitalization. Beshear wrote a letter on July 8 seeking a health update, and days later McConnell issued his first public statement, saying the hospitalization resulted from a fall and that he had moved to a rehabilitation center.
Earlier in August, McConnell released a statement saying he had been discharged from the rehabilitation center, nearly two months after he was initially hospitalized, and that he would continue recovering at home. The statement did not indicate when he expected to return to Capitol Hill.
In his July 8 letter, Beshear said 'Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and wellbeing, and ability to hold office in the United States Senate,' and requested that McConnell 'fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status' of his health. In a second letter later that month, Beshear urged McConnell to 'directly and verbally' address his constituents and provide proof of his ability to continue to serve.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who previously served as McConnell's No. 2 when McConnell was leader, has deferred to McConnell and his staff for health updates while expressing hope that the senator will return to Capitol Hill soon, according to the source.
- The source does not state the specific nature of McConnell's medical condition beyond a fall that led to hospitalization.
- The source does not state McConnell's current capacity to perform Senate duties.
- The source does not state whether McConnell's office has publicly responded to Beshear's letters.
- The source does not state whether any other Kentucky officials or Senate colleagues have made similar requests for health updates.
- The source does not state what procedures, if any, exist in the Senate to assess a sitting senator's capacity to serve.