Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) confirmed early Thursday that Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) remains hospitalized and is undergoing rehabilitation.

Speaking with journalist Nicholas Ballasy, Tuberville said: "He lives next door to me. He's still in the hospital, he's doing rehab."

McConnell, 84, has not appeared on video since his hospitalization in June, fueling speculation about his condition. His office released still photographs in July but has otherwise provided minimal information beyond brief, boilerplate statements.

Tuberville warned that McConnell's continued absence could delay Senate votes on President Donald Trump's agenda, including the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general. Blanche, a former federal prosecutor, previously served as one of Trump's personal defense attorneys. Cabinet and senior administration confirmations are among the most time-sensitive tasks in the opening weeks of a new presidency, and with Republicans holding a narrow Senate majority, even a single extended absence can affect floor scheduling and cloture thresholds for nominees.

When asked by Ballasy whether he was surprised that McConnell's team had not released video to dispel doubts about the senator's health, Tuberville responded with a tight smile. Tuberville had previously urged McConnell's office to release video footage, acknowledging what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the situation.

McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, stepped down from his role as Senate Republican leader in November 2024 after holding the post since 2007. He was succeeded by Senator John Thune (R-SD). McConnell has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985 and currently serves as chair of the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. The Rules Committee oversees Senate floor procedures, federal election administration, and contested Senate seating matters, while the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee handles a significant share of Pentagon discretionary spending — both portfolios requiring active participation during a presidential transition and appropriations cycle.

The Kentucky Republican has experienced multiple health episodes in recent years, including a fall in March 2023 that resulted in a concussion and fractured rib, followed by at least two public instances later that year in which he froze momentarily while speaking to reporters. His office attributed those incidents to dehydration and recovery from his earlier injury. McConnell also contracted polio as a child, a fact he has referenced publicly when discussing his opposition to vaccine misinformation.

Under Senate rules, a senator's extended absence does not automatically trigger any mechanism for removal or replacement. Governors in most states hold the power to fill Senate vacancies through appointment, but Kentucky law requires a special election and restricts the governor's appointment authority. Were a vacancy to occur, the process would be governed by Kentucky Revised Statutes, which mandate that a temporarily appointed successor serve only until the next regular election cycle.

The full remarks were posted by Nicholas Ballasy on X: https://x.com/NicholasBallasy/status/2085235977782473106.

Source: Raw Story