Sept. 3 (UPI) — The Republican head of the House Oversight Committee said Thursday Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is expected to return to Capitol Hill later this month.
Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told reporters that McConnell’s staff told him the senator, who has been away from Washington, D.C., for months due to unspecified health issues, will be back to work on Sept. 14 when the chamber returns from a five-week recess.
McConnell, 84, was hospitalized in mid-June for after a fall in his home in Washington. He announced last month he was released from a rehabilitation center where he had been undergoing physical therapy.
“I have not talked to Leader McConnell. I’ve talked to his staff, many of whom are from my district originally. And they have all said it’s their goal for Senator McConnell to be here when the Senate comes in,” Comer said.
The former Senate majority leader has not voted since June 11.
McConnell spokesperson Stephanie Penn on Wednesday told CNN that there were no “scheduling announcements at this time” when asked about the senator’s return. On Thursday, spokesperson David Popp referred to the latest statement from McConnell’s office.
McConnell is not seeking re-election this year.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has demanded that McConnell prove he is able to serve out the remaining months of his term.
Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., is running for McConnell’s seat against Democrat Charles Booker.
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