Reporting

Senator Casts Doubt on McConnell Photo

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) said he “heard from some other sources” the photo of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his wife released Sunday is older than what the public has been told.

Sandra RhodesJul 14, 20262 min read

Elaine Chao Lindsey Graham Mitch McConnell Senate U.S. News

Sen. Ron Johnson(R-Wisc.) called into question the veracity of a photo of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his wife.

“I’ve just heard from some other sources that was an older photo. So I really don’t know,” Johnson told host Eric Bollingon Real America’s Voice’s “Bolling!”

Johnson said he has not spoken to McConnell. He added he hopes McConnell will recover and will “come back and vote” in line with President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Watch:

https://x.com/atrupar/status/2076775252424601627?s=20

Later on Monday, Johnson addressed his comment on McConnell’s photo on X.

“Beware of clickbait — watch the full clip. Most importantly, I hope @SenMcConnell makes a full recovery and returns to the Senate,” Johnson wrote.

https://x.com/SenRonJohnson/status/2076815724018839599?s=20

The photo in question was released Sunday as proof of how McConnell was doing after not being seen for weeks. He was hospitalized June 14.

McConnell, 84, who is retiring, went to the hospital after a fall left him “briefly unconscious.”

“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion,” McConnell wrote on Facebook. “I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital.”

“While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia,” he added.

McConnell included a photo of himself in a hospital bed with his wife, former Labor and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao at his side.

McConnell is holding a copy of Sunday’s frontpage of the Washington Post’s sports section.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear(D) had publicly inquired about McConnell’s health:

The photo also came less than 24 hours after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) died at the age of 71.

The chief medical examiner of Washington, D.C., has preliminarily ruled Graham’s cause of death to be an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease

On Sunday, McConnell said he “won’t be able to return to the Senate floor quite yet” on the advice of his doctors.

He added he is “working closely” with his legislative and constituent services staff on the “business that matters” to the people of Kentucky.

“I’ll keep working hard to get back on the Senate floor as soon as possible. And I’ll keep you posted on the progress of my recovery. Until then, I’m so grateful for your prayers and well wishes,” he said.