McConnell aides decline to comment on senator's health and video request
Senior staff members for Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell refused repeated questions about a potential video update on his condition, while the office released limited health information.
Senior aides to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell declined to answer a journalist's repeated inquiries about whether the senator would issue a video confirming his health. spokesperson Robert Steurer, who has worked for McConnell for more than two decades, walked away when asked about a possible statement, and press secretary Stephanie Penn also avoided the reporter earlier this month.
McConnell, 84, was hospitalized after emergency services responded to his Washington residence on June 14 for a cardiac arrest. His office remained silent for weeks, releasing a brief update on July 12 that included a photo of the senator sitting up in bed with his wife, Elaine Chao, and noting he had no broken bones, heart attack, concussion or stroke, but had briefly lost consciousness and developed mild pneumonia.
Doctors have said McConnell is not yet medically cleared to leave rehabilitation. > "We are closely monitoring Senator McConnell's condition and will share information when appropriate," a statement from his office said.
The lack of detailed communication has fueled speculation online, and the images released by the office were questioned by some users as potentially altered.