Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday that Sen. Mitch McConnell has not responded to formal inquiries regarding his health following an extended hospitalization earlier this summer.
“I’ve heard absolutely nothing back from Mitch McConnell,” Beshear said during an appearance on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
McConnell, 84, was hospitalized on June 14 after suffering a fall. After weeks of limited information from his office, the longtime Republican senator released a statement in July confirming the fall and announcing a transfer to an inpatient rehabilitation center. Earlier this month, McConnell announced his discharge from rehabilitation after nearly two months of care, stating he would continue his recovery at home. His office has not specified a date for his return to Capitol Hill.
Beshear sent a formal letter to McConnell on July 8 citing public interest in his condition, writing that “Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and wellbeing, and ability to hold office in the United States Senate.”
In a follow-up letter later that month, the Democratic governor asked McConnell to “directly and verbally” address constituents to demonstrate his fitness to serve.
Speaking on Sunday, Beshear reiterated those calls while noting his long acquaintance with the senator.
“I do hope that he is getting better,” Beshear said, adding that McConnell’s “boss are the people of Kentucky.”
“This is why the Senate, the Republican-controlled Senate, feels so broken, they feel like they’re not accountable to anyone,” Beshear added. “All he needs to do is call into this show for two minutes, or Fox News for two minutes, or do a video for two minutes to the people he’s supposed to serve. But you know what? He absolutely refuses to do it.”
Beshear also criticized Senate Majority Leader John Thune for deferring to McConnell’s staff regarding health updates rather than providing oversight.
“As the leader of the Senate, you’ve got a duty to make sure all of your senators have the capacity to serve, and what is he saying? Not my job,” Beshear said.
Thune, who previously served as McConnell’s deputy leader, has expressed optimism that the Kentucky senator will return to Washington soon while leaving updates to McConnell’s medical team and office.
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