The governor of Kentucky is asking that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reveal specifics about his health amid rumors from the right and left that the former GOP leader could be on life support.
In the letter, Gov. Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) wrote: “Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and well-being, and ability to hold office in the United States. As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health. As public officeholders, we have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and always be transparent. I believe this requires clear communication about one’s ability to serve. We wish you a safe and speedy recovery.”
McConnell has been in a Washington hospital for three weeks after a 911 call revealed CPR was being performed.
Former aide Scott Jennings, who is now a pundit on CNN, said that he spoke with McConnell for about 20 minutes: “I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.”
Jennings was then mocked and questioned about the legitimacy of his comments.
Rep. Tom Massie (R-Ky.) went so far as to outright mock Jennings, saying, “I spoke to McConnell for about 20 minutes this morning. He said we should end the war with Iran, quit giving aid to Israel, stop spying on Americans without a warrant, and he’s really sorry about how my primary turned out.”
The issue is coming to a head after several incidents in which McConnell appeared to freeze on camera, rattling his colleagues and the press.
Meanwhile, the GOP is dealing with one of its own members who was institutionalized for over three months and didn’t reveal to his district, citizens or the Republican Party leadership in the House. His district is an extremely competitive one, so a member missing in action remains a problem for Republicans, as Democrats campaign for his seat. Given the 100 votes he missed, Kean can’t use his record to justify his reelection.
McConnell, by contrast, isn’t running for reelection. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said on Tuesday that none of the U.S. Senate appears to know what’s going on and they haven’t spoken out ‘Because they are ALL in on it together.”
The conservative Washington Examiner commented that this could test Kentucky’s office vacancy laws.
“There’s a wrinkle,” University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law associate dean Josh Douglas told Newsweek.
“The Kentucky Constitution, in Section 152, says the Governor appoints when there is a vacancy in a statewide office,” Douglas added. “Yet the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says essentially that there should be an election but that the legislature can give the Governor the ability to make a temporary appointment.”