Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) sent another letter to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Monday night, demanding the senator provide evidence he is capable of serving or resign from his post.
McConnell and the Office of the Attending Physician provided a brief update on the senator’s health earlier Monday, explaining he was not yet cleared to leave rehabilitation therapy and return to Congress. The 84-year-old has been absent from the chamber since he was hospitalized in Washington, D.C., on June 14 after taking a fall.
In a rather scathing letter provided to the Washington Examiner, Beshear addressed McConnell “under the assumption that he is capable of reading and responding verbally, and not incapacitated by means of consciousness or cognition,” and urged transparency about his condition.
The Democratic governor then called on McConnell “to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign,” adding that a copy of the letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) that includes demands to “further investigate” McConnell’s condition.
Beshear, a possible 2028 presidential candidate, noted the statement released by McConnell’s physician the same day, and said it was inadequate.
“During that time you have cast zero votes, engaged in no official activities, and aside from two photos and corresponding statements, have made no effort to communicate with your Kentucky constituents or the nation,” Beshear said. “Even the attending physician’s written statement does not discuss your actual condition, including whether you can speak, reason, or carry out your duties as a senator. I understand anyone’s desire for privacy, but when you run for office and serve as one of a state’s two US senators, you willingly abdicate much of your personal privacy.”
Beshear continued, pointing to “important events [that] are happening in our country right now,” including the Iran war and rising costs for American families.
“All of this speculation and even this letter could have been avoided with a minimal amount of transparency,” Beshear said. “Even your protégé Scott Jennings stated July 23rd on television, ‘truthfully a little transparency on the front here would have saved him a whole lot of grief.’ Kentuckians are just asking you to be honest.”
WHAT LEGISLATION HAS MITCH MCCONNELL’S ABSENCE STALLED IN THE SENATE?
Beshear had previously sent McConnell a letter when his hospital stay was nearing the one-month mark, similarly demanding transparency about the senator’s health.
McConnell has missed 38 votes on the Senate floor since his hospitalization in mid-June. Republicans hold a slim 53-47 majority in the upper chamber.