McConnell released from hospital, won’t return to Senate immediately

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) was released from hospital Monday after suffering a concussion last week when he tripped and fell during a private dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in downtown Washington.

McConnell, who is 81, is not expected to return to the Senate this week when senators are due to vote on legislation repealing the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force in Iraq.

Doctors discovered over the weekend that the leader was also suffering from what his office described as “a minor rib fracture”, for which he is being treated.

“Chief McConnell’s concussion recovery is going well, and the Chief was discharged from hospital today. On the advice of his doctor, the next step will be a period of physiotherapy at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. before returning home,” said McConnell communications director David Popp.

Popp said McConnell and his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, “are deeply grateful for the skilled medical care, prayers and kindness they received.”

McConnell missed a call the administration hosted on Sunday for senators and House members to brief them on Biden’s decision to protect depositors at Silicon Valley Bank and other banks taken over by the federal government.

McConnell fell Wednesday after attending a reception for the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC that pumped $290 million into the 2022 election, followed by a private dinner at the Waldorf Astoria.

Sources familiar with the evening described the dinner as a small, private event. McConnell was taken to hospital by ambulance after tripping and hitting his head.

McConnell broke his shoulder after falling at his home in Kentucky in 2019.

He was easily reelected to a seventh term in the Senate in 2020 and in January overtook the late Sen. Mike Mansfield (D-Mont.) as the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. Mansfield had been the leader of the GOP in the Senate from 1961 to 1977.

McConnell succeeded former Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) as Senate Republican leader in January 2007.