McConnell says a fall and pneumonia caused his weeks-long absence
Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky ended weeks of silence about his health on Sunday, saying a fall last month left him briefly unconscious and led to a hospital stay, during which he also had a mild case of pneumonia. He said doctors confirmed he had not broken any bones or suffered a concussion, heart attack or stroke.
McConnell, 84, said he has moved from the hospital to a rehabilitation center to rebuild his strength and will not return to the Senate floor to vote “quite yet,” while continuing to work with his staff on Senate business. His absence carries weight for the narrow Republican majority: with a full Senate calendar including a large defense spending bill, every missing vote narrows the margin the leadership has to work with.