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Kentucky Governor Asks Mitch McConnell To ‘Fully Update’ People On His Health

WASHINGTON — Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is calling on Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to publicly share the status of his health, as his mysterious and weekslong hospitalization has raised questions about his ability to serve.

"Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and wellbeing, and ability to hold office in the United States Senate," Beshear said in a Wednesday letter to McConnell.

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"As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health," he said. "As public officeholders, we have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent. I believe this requires clear communication about one's ability to serve."

Here's a copy of the Beshear's letter:

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McConnell has been in the hospital since June 14, the same day emergency medical services were dispatched to his home and performed CPR on someone who was unconscious and under cardiac arrest. Nobody has publicly seen or heard from McConnell since, and his office has given no details about his condition beyond recycling a week-old statement about how he "continues his recovery in the hospital" and remains engaged in Senate work.

"Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he's receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital," his spokesperson says in a statement that's been provided every day. "The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session."

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McConnell's office hasn't even acknowledged whether he was the person found unconscious at his house and taken to the hospital the same day McConnell went in. The silence around the 84-year-old senator's health has fueled wild speculation about his cognitive state, his prognosis, if or when he's returning to the Senate, or if he's even fully conscious.

The former longtime Senate majority leader has suffered a number of health scares in recent years, including public falls and periods of freezing up and being unable to speak.

In an apparently coordinated effort to show that McConnell is alive and on the mend, some of his allies put out statements on Tuesday saying they recently spoke to him on the phone for 20 minutes and discussed various issues. Aides to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) shared statements with the press at the same time, as conservative pundit Scott Jennings made similar comments.

"I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky," Jennings said on social media. "He's still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible."

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None shared details about the actual state McConnell is in.

His absence from the Senate could cause problems for Republicans and for President Donald Trump's agenda. McConnell is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where Republicans hold a one-vote margin. With McConnell missing, Republicans don't hold a majority anymore, which means they can't report out any bills unless at least one Democrat joins them or at least one Democrat doesn't show up while every Republican does.

Beyond that, McConnell chairs the appropriations subcommittee that controls Pentagon spending. He previously dismissed Trump's demand that Senate Republicans bypass Democrats and use an arcane process known as budget reconciliation to pass a $350 billion defense spending package with only GOP votes. The president will need McConnell's help to get any of his funding plans through, and his absence could stall or tank those efforts.

Beshear's office said it's been flooded with questions from Kentucky residents about McConnell's condition, which is what ultimately led the governor to contact him personally.

"Rather than contribute to the increased speculation unfolding in the media and public space, Gov. Beshear is reaching out directly to Sen. McConnell to make the request," reads a statement from Beshear's office.