McConnell Returns to US Senate Following 3-Month Paid Absence

Por Chris Walker — Truthout

Several reports described the senator as “frail,” and his staff restricted journalists from filming his return.

Truthout is a vital news source and a living history of political struggle. If you think our work is valuable, support us with a donation of any size.

After a 92-day absence, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) returned to Capitol Hill on Monday, despite lingering questions about his health and fitness to serve.

McConnell participated in votes on the Senate floor, including a vote on the advancement of a federal judge nominated by President Donald Trump. His renewed presence in the Senate is also imperative for Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee, as the conference has just a 12-11 advantage over Democrats on that panel.

Earlier in the day, TMZ captured video of McConnell exiting his D.C. home, showing the senator requiring assistance to enter his vehicle and buckle his seatbelt. McConnell appeared unresponsive to reporters’ questions.

Before taking part in Senate floor activities, McConnell addressed reporters inside the Capitol, though his staff forbade any recording of the senator during that time. Some media reports took note of his continued health issues — The Associated Press, for example, reported that McConnell was “looking noticeably more frail” than at his last public appearance, while CNN’s Manu Raju tweeted that the senator “appear[ed] frailer and his voice [was] slower.”

After speaking briefly to reporters, McConnell refused to take any questions. His office later released a statement, saying:

Today, I’ll cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June. I look forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues.

“I’m still not quite back to 100 percent,” McConnell’s statement continued, “but I’ve assured [Senate Majority] Leader [John] 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.”

The refusal to allow recording of the senator during his return to the Capitol means there has not been any audio recording of McConnell since earlier this summer.

On June 14, McConnell reportedly suffered a fall in his home, which required hospitalization and, soon after, a long period of physical rehabilitation. Despite releasing photographs and text statements, his failure to provide audio or video evidence of his health led to doubts about his ability to remain in office for the remainder of his term, which officially ends in January.

McConnell’s absence could reasonably be viewed as a long-term “sick leave,” as he was still receiving compensation despite being away from his work as a senator for the past three months. The U.S. is the only wealthy country in the world that doesn’t guarantee even a single day of paid sick leave for its workers. Notably, McConnell has been instrumental in voting against and blocking efforts to implement such protections, including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This September, Truthout is celebrating 25 years of publication. For over two decades, we have been a trusted source for fiercely independent journalism thanks to readers like you.

As we look to the next 25 years, we have launched a special fundraising campaign. Looking to a sustainable future for our publication, we have a fundraising goal of $100,000 in the next 9 days.

We are asking for your support at this juncture because we face greater threats than ever before in our organizational history. Trump and his MAGA allies are determined to control the information ecosystem, and movement-based organizations are subject to dangerous censorship and scrutiny.

If you can support Truthout with a one-time or monthly donation, you will make a significant impact on our work and our legacy. Anything you can do makes a difference!

This article is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), and you are free to share and republish under the following terms:

Chris Walker is a news writer at Truthout, based in Madison, Wisconsin. Focusing on both national and local topics since the early 2000s, he has produced thousands of articles analyzing the issues of the day and their impact on people. He can be found on most social media platforms under the handle @thatchriswalker.

Get the news you want, delivered to your inbox every day.

Please make a donation to Truthout during our special 25th anniversary fundraiser. We have 9 days to raise $100,000!

Fonte: Truthout