Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, is pressing Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to demonstrate that he remains capable of serving in Congress following an extended hospital stay — or step down from his seat.
In a letter sent to McConnell, Beshear called on the 84-year-old senator to speak directly to Kentuckians about his health and his ability to continue carrying out his duties in Washington.
“I am calling on you to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign,” Beshear wrote to McConnell.
The governor’s demand came after McConnell’s office said Monday that the longtime Senate Republican leader had been released from the hospital but had not yet received medical clearance to leave the rehabilitation facility where he has been receiving physical therapy and return to work.
McConnell’s office also confirmed that he would miss a major Kentucky political gathering as well as upcoming Senate votes.
“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders. Unfortunately, that means I won’t be able to make it to Fancy Farm, Kentucky, this Saturday … As always, I appreciate all of your continued well wishes, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon,” McConnell said in a statement.
McConnell was admitted to the hospital on June 14, and his office later disclosed that the hospitalization followed a fall at his home.
“Since his discharge from hospital care, he has maintained a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls. His bout with childhood polio continues to be a significant factor in his mobility. He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office,” the Attending Physician’s office said in a statement.
The physician’s statement focused on McConnell’s mobility, physical rehabilitation and risk of future falls and did not raise concerns about his cognitive condition.
Beshear first urged McConnell earlier this month to release more information about his health after weeks of no public comments.
The governor also sent a letter on Tuesday to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., calling on him to investigate McConnell’s condition if the senator does not prove that he is capable of continuing his term.
“All of this speculation and even this letter could have been avoided with a minimal amount of transparency,” Beshear wrote to Thune.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the offices of Beshear, McConnell and Thune.
Since he was hospitalized last month, McConnell’s office has issued major updates on July 12 and July 27, with each notice featuring a photograph.
This comes amid intensified public scrutiny of aging elected officials in recent years over mental gaffes and deaths in office.
The dispute comes amid heightened scrutiny of aging elected officials and transparency surrounding their health. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., died in office in 2023, while Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died earlier this month. Former President Joe Biden ended his 2024 re-election campaign after concerns about his age and health became a dominant political issue.
