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McConnell Returns to US Senate Following 3-Month Paid Absence

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15.09.2026

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After a 92-day absence, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) returned to Capitol Hill on Monday, despite lingering questions about his health and fitness to serve.

McConnell participated in votes on the Senate floor, including a vote on the advancement of a federal judge nominated by President Donald Trump. His renewed presence in the Senate is also imperative for Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee, as the conference has just a 12-11 advantage over Democrats on that panel.

Earlier in the day, TMZ captured video of McConnell exiting his D.C. home, showing the senator requiring assistance to enter his vehicle and buckle his seatbelt. McConnell appeared unresponsive to reporters’ questions.

Before taking part in Senate floor activities, McConnell addressed reporters inside the Capitol, though his staff forbade any recording of the senator during that time. Some media reports took note of his continued health issues — The Associated Press, for example, reported that McConnell was “looking noticeably more frail” than at his last public appearance, while CNN’s Manu Raju tweeted that the senator “appear[ed] frailer and his voice [was] slower.”

After speaking briefly to reporters, McConnell refused to take any questions. His office later released a statement, saying:

Kentucky Gov........

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