Mitch McConnell disappears from view after casting just one Senate vote

WASHINGTON, DC: Mitch McConnell was not seen again after casting one Senate vote Thursday, September 17, and skipped two subsequent votes, leaving his whereabouts unclear after his return to Capitol Hill.

The 84-year-old Kentucky senator had returned Monday following a three-month absence and a June 14 hospitalization.

On Thursday morning, McConnell was filmed leaving his Washington home in a wheelchair and was later seen on Capitol Hill before the vote.

Mitch McConnell's whereabouts remained unclear after the vote

McConnell voted “yea” on a procedural vote to advance a bipartisan bill regulating college sports, but Senate floor video did not show him as his name was called and his vote recorded.

He did not participate in the next two votes that afternoon before senators left for the weekend. 

McConnell was one of four senators who missed a procedural vote and one of six who did not vote to confirm a district judge that day.

The Daily Beast reported on Friday that McConnell’s office was asked where he went after the earlier vote and why he did not participate in the remaining votes. The office did not immediately respond.

No photographs emerged of McConnell being wheeled through the Capitol halls, and he was not captured on camera during his short journey home.

Independent journalist Desirée Townsend filmed McConnell being loaded into an SUV outside his Washington home Thursday morning, accompanied by chief of staff Terry Carmack.

McConnell smiled toward the camera, gave a thumbs-up, and did not answer questions. 

A dark bruise was visible on his left hand as his team moved him.

Another Senate appearance raised health questions

Earlier this week, McConnell had made brief public appearances after his hospitalization, but he has generally avoided speaking to reporters. 

On Monday, he delivered a short statement outside the Senate chamber but did not take questions.

The Daily Beast said that statement took place in an area of the Capitol where reporters are not allowed to take video, a rule McConnell supports as chair of the Senate Rules Committee.

McConnell’s Thursday absence came a day after he appeared confused during a Senate Agriculture Committee meeting while voting on the Farm Bill.

His name had to be called twice as aides and Republicans urged him to vote “aye.”

He eventually lifted a finger and said, “aye.”

Video showed McConnell staring off while seated between Republican Senators John Hoeven and John Boozman as others spoke. He made no remarks and left the meeting early, with his team wheeling him out.

The outlet also noted that McConnell has previously frozen up in public, including before his latest hospitalization.

Public reemergence has drawn competing reactions

Some senators welcomed McConnell back with smiles and well wishes this week, while the outlet said his frail appearance and frozen expressions have drawn online backlash.

MAGA and liberal influencers have raised concerns about his return and intensified calls for congressional term limits, with some describing the situation as a serious case of elder abuse.

Dr Anahita Dua told the Daily Beast that McConnell’s “recovery was far from over” and said returning to Congress “makes it harder.”

Dua also said she feared another fall for McConnell could “kill him,” adding a medical warning to the concerns surrounding his public appearances.