By MARY CLARE JALONICK and LISA MASCARO (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell suffered a concussion after a fall at a neighborhood lodge and stays hospitalized “for a few days of observation and treatment,” a spokesman stated Thursday.
The Kentucky senator, 81, was at a Wednesday night dinner for the Senate Leadership Fund, a marketing campaign committee aligned with him, when he tripped and fell. The dinner was on the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, previously the Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C.
Spokesman David Popp stated McConnell is being handled for a concussion and “is grateful to the medical professionals for their care and to his colleagues for their warm wishes.” McConnell’s workplace didn’t present further element on his situation or how lengthy he could also be absent from the Senate.
President Joe Biden tweeted that he needs McConnell a “speedy recovery” and appears ahead to seeing him again on the Senate flooring.
South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican, informed reporters earlier on Thursday that he had not spoken to McConnell. He stated he was on the dinner and McConnell had delivered remarks “as usual.”
“Evidently it happened later in the evening,” stated Thune, who had moved on to a different reception underway on the lodge and didn’t see McConnell fall.
Concussions could be severe accidents and take time for restoration. Many skilled sporting associations have centered on the hazards of repetitive head accidents. Even a single incident of concussion can restrict an individual’s skills as they get well.
In 2019, the GOP chief tripped and fell at his dwelling in Kentucky, struggling a shoulder fracture. At the time, he underwent surgical procedure to restore the fracture in his shoulder. The Senate had simply began a summer season recess, and he labored from dwelling for some weeks as he recovered.
First elected in 1984, McConnell in January grew to become the longest-serving Senate chief when the brand new Congress convened, breaking the earlier document of 16 years.
The taciturn McConnell is usually reluctant to debate his personal life. But at first of the COVID-19 disaster he opened up about his early childhood expertise combating polio. He described how his mom insisted that he keep off his ft as a toddler and labored with him by way of a decided bodily remedy regime. He has acknowledged some issue in maturity climbing stairs.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stated on the Senate flooring Thursday morning that he had referred to as McConnell and spoken along with his employees “to extend my prayers and well wishes.”
“I joined every single one of my colleagues in wishing Leader McConnell a speedy and full recovery,” Schumer stated.
The Senate, the place the typical age is 65, has been with out a number of members not too long ago on account of sickness.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., 53, who suffered a stroke throughout his marketing campaign final 12 months, was anticipated to stay out for some weeks as he obtained take care of medical melancholy. And Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., 89, stated final week that she had been hospitalized to be handled for shingles.
The Democratic absences have confirmed a problem for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who’s already navigating a really slim 51-49 majority.
The Republicans, because the minority social gathering, have had a better time with intermittent absences. It is unclear if McConnell will likely be out on Thursday and if that may affect scheduled votes.
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This story has been corrected to indicate that Sen. Dianne Feinstein is 89, not 90.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”