McConnell working from home after tripping at Capitol
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) missed his usual morning speech to open the Senate on Thursday after falling earlier in the week and suffering a minor cut to the face and a sprained wrist.
McConnell, 82 years old, also missed a Wednesday afternoon vote on President Biden’s nominee to serve as district judge for the Northern District of California.
“After tripping on Tuesday, Leader McConnell is experiencing leg stiffness and will work from home today,” a McConnell spokesperson said in a statement Thursday morning.
McConnell did not appear at the Tuesday afternoon leadership press conference after falling and suffering minor injuries following the Senate Republican policy lunch.
A medical team transporting a wheelchair was spotted entering his office after he fell Tuesday.
The veteran Kentucky lawmaker, who has served a record 18 years as Senate party leader, will step down from his leadership post at the end of the month.
He plans to serve out the remainder of his Senate term, which ends in 2026.
He will take over as chair of the powerful Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee next year and has pledged to increase federal spending on the nation’s defenses in the years ahead.
McConnell has repeatedly warned of the threats to U.S. national security and economic interests posed by Russia, China and Iran, telling The Financial Times in a recent interview that “we’re in a very, very dangerous world right now.”