From TIME · Chantelle Lee · · 1m 20s
McConnell returns to the Senate floor
After three months away from a fall that landed him in the hospital, the 84-year-old is back for votes.
In brief
After three months away from a fall that landed him in the hospital, the 84-year-old is back for votes. McConnell is voting again but openly not at full strength, and his term ends in January. Originally reported by TIME.
Back for the first vote
McConnell said on X Monday evening that he would cast his first Senate vote since June, ending a months-long absence from the chamber.
“Today, I'll cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June.”
A long, frustrating recovery
The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican said the lingering effects of childhood polio slowed his recovery on top of the fall itself.
“My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process.”
Not quite back to 100%
He told Majority Leader John Thune he will keep up physical therapy and try to show up for tough votes when the Republican conference needs him.
“I'm still not quite back to 100%.”
Silence bred speculation
His office said almost nothing after the June 14 hospitalization. Weeks of absence pushed rumors about his health across the internet.
Kentucky's governor pressed
In July, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear published a letter pushing McConnell to tell Kentuckians where his health actually stood.
“fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of [his] health”
What actually happened
He later said he briefly lost consciousness after the fall and had mild pneumonia, but no broken bones, concussion, tumors, or heart attack. He retires in January.
In short
McConnell is voting again but openly not at full strength, and his term ends in January.
