Senator Mitch McConnell said he intends to return to Congress on Monday after a three-month absence following a fall at his home. The 84-year-old lawmaker released a statement late Monday afternoon confirming his return. "Today, I’ll cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June.
I’m really looking forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues," McConnell's office said in a statement obtained by Newsweek. "My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven’t made it any easier. I’m still not quite back to 100%, but I’ve assured Leader Thune that, as I continue with physical therapy on the advice of my doctors, I will do my best to be present for tough votes when our conference needs me." McConnell's statement concluded: "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 later told reporters he was surprised by the amount of interest in his return.
"I must admit, after two years, two decades, actually dodging your questions, I wasn't sure how many of you would be here today, but I'm glad to see you," he said. "Time to get back to work, finish the job for this Congress. I'm here to work on the farm bill ...
As I think you know, I have an ongoing issue in NATO and backing up our good friends who are totally in the fight against the Russians." McConnell, whose seventh and final term ends in January, had previously been expected to return to the Capitol on Wednesday, several sources close to the matter told Politico. Staff for the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican previously told fellow senior GOP lawmakers that he intends to return to Congress that day for a committee vote on the farm bill, which previously stalled amid his absence, sources told the outlet. Charles Booker, a Democrat running against Republican Representative Andy Barr for McConnell's seat, criticized the former GOP leader for his continued absence prior to Monday's announcement.
"Where's Mitch? 92 days absent!" Booker wrote on X. "The Senate is back and Mitch McConnell isn't. Meanwhile, Kentuckians are getting crushed by the rising costs of groceries, health care, and gas while McConnell gets a taxpayer-funded paycheck and Kentucky gets an empty seat.
That is absolutely embarrassing. Kentucky deserves better!" McConnell's office had declined to provide an update on the timing of the lawmaker's possible return on Friday, referring Newsweek to a statement last month saying he would continue recovering at home after being discharged from a rehabilitation center. McConnell's office previously announced he had been discharged on August 6, 53 days after falling at his Washington home, where emergency personnel responded after receiving a 911 call regarding an unconscious person.
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