Mystery over condition of one of Washington's most powerful men
One of America’s most powerful men has been in hospital for three weeks with serious concerns about the severity of his condition.
Former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was rushed to hospital in a critical condition on June 14.
Mitch McConnell's staffers have been cagey about the senator's condition. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Paramedics performed CPR on the 84-year-old senator after he was found unconscious in his home in Washington, DC.
Since then, there have been few updates on the senior Republican’s health in any detail.
But a conservative firebrand close to Donald Trump revealed a grim diagnosis this morning.
“High level source close to the White House tells me ‘Mitch McConnell is officially brain dead. He’s not coming back,’” Laura Loomer posted on X.
“Mitch McConnell is being kept ‘alive’ by life support machines, but my White House source told me McConnell is in organ failure, and as I reported, source told me he has allegedly been declared a vegetable (brain dead) by doctors.”
A statement from his office issued last week said the Kentucky senator “continues to improve” and was “receiving excellent care”.
US senator Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze up during several press conferences. CNN
McConnell is not running for re-election but is set to remain in office until January.
The Democrat running to replace him, Charles Booker, has demanded answers on his condition.
“When we don’t know if our senator is alert, conscious or capable of serving, that’s not a partisan question,” Booker said.
“What is clear is that we have known for some time that Mitch McConnell has lacked the capacity to represent us in the Senate.”
“Continuing to ignore this is not leadership. It’s elder abuse.”
McConnell’s health has been the subject of speculation for several years, after he appeared to freeze up during several press conferences in 2023.
The then-leader of the Senate Republicans stopped talking mid-sentence and did not speak for 19 seconds before he was ushered away.
He stepped down as party leader but remained a senator.
Earlier today, Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie posted what appeared to be a mocking joke at McConnell’s expense.
“Is America ready for my term limit legislation titled ‘Three Strokes and You’re Out’?” Massie wrote on Facebook.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is considered a possible candidate for the presidency in 2024. AP
Although they are both Republicans, there is no love lost between McConnell and Massie.
There is no mechanism for removing or replacing a senator from office if they are facing a long-term health condition that renders them unable to serve.
Senators must resign of their own volition or die to be replaced.
If McConnell were to die, the Kentucky constitution states he shall be replaced by someone appointed by the governor.
Right now, that means Democratic Governor Andy Beshear would be able to choose a replacement for the remainder of McConnell’s term.
It would be far from unprecedented for the governor to replace McConnell with a Democrat, narrowing the Republican party’s margin in the upper house.
But a law removing that power from the governor is currently being contested in state courts.
Platner pushed to step aside in Maine
Meanwhile, Democrats are facing a political headache in one of their best opportunities for a pick-up in the Senate.
Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for the Senate in Maine, is facing calls to step down after an ex-girlfriend accused him of rape.
Graham Platner is one of the Democrats' best hopes of picking up a Senate seat, despite his personal history. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty
Previous backers of Platner have now rescinded their endorsements.
“There can be no tolerance for sexual assault,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said.
“With so much at stake, the best path forward is for Graham Platner to step aside as the Democratic nominee and address these serious allegations outside this Senate race.”
Platner has disputed her serious accusation.
“Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,” Platner said.
Collins is a long-time Republican senator who has a record of defying the political trends in Democratic-leaning Maine.
Platner can be replaced on the ballot by another Democrat, so long as he drops out before Monday.
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