Republicans face fresh questions over missing Mitch McConnell as doubts grow over their story

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen Mitch McConnell (R-KY) hasn't appeared in public for over two months, ever since he was rushed to the hospital on June 14.

His continued absence is raising serious questions in Kentucky, and not just from one party; people on both sides are getting restless. Charles Booker, the Democratic Senate nominee, isn't holding back either. He’s openly criticizing Republican leaders, accusing them of saying they've spoken with McConnell even though the senator hasn’t addressed the public or his constituents himself.

Charles Booker flags lack of transparency surrounding Mitch McConnell

Top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Whip John Barrasso, and conservative commentator Scott Jennings all insist they’ve spoken with McConnell by phone since his hospitalization.

They even say they talked about policy matters. Booker doesn’t buy it. He’s made it clear he doesn’t believe their stories.

"In an age where every time we turn on the news, there's lies, we're in an age of politics where dishonesty is the norm, and the lack of transparency is to be expected," Booker told the Daily Beast on Friday, August 14. "It's why a lot of people don't trust politics, so no, I do not believe them."

"Mitch McConnell has been known to lie to our people here in Kentucky and the country throughout his career," he added.

The 84-year-old's team has put out two photos since he disappeared from the public eye. While he is allegedly holding calls with GOP allies and working with staff, he has not called any news outlets or released any videos reassuring the people of Kentucky about his recovery.

"There's a lot of deep, deep frustration. Kentuckians, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike are offended at this point," Booker said of what he's hearing on the campaign trail.

Booker said McConnell owes his constituents a direct communication, regardless of format: "I've been very consistent in saying that this is not about attacking Mitch McConnell because he had a health emergency. We know how serious that is, but it's the secrecy. It's the dishonesty.”

Charles Booker says Mitch McConnell needs to speak directly to Kentuckians

Booker said that Kentuckians are used to being "screwed over by Mitch McConnell, and this just feels like another way to punch us on the way out, and to tell Kentuckians that he doesn't care about us."

McConnell is not running for reelection at the end of his six-year term, leaving the race for the seat open for the first time in more than 40 years since he first took office in January 1985. Booker secured the Democratic nomination and will face GOP Rep Andy Barr in November.

"Mitch McConnell needs to speak directly to the people," Booker said. "If he's supposedly talking to all these Republican leaders, 20-plus minute conversations, he can talk to the people of Kentucky, and it should be, if not in person, certainly a video that is verified.  

Since McConnell went into the hospital, his team hasn’t said much, just a few statements and two photos of him. The last update, posted on August 6 and signed by McConnell, said he’d left rehab and was recovering at home. He’s getting physical therapy there and is still working with his staff.