Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized on Wednesday after he tripped and fell in a Washington, D.C. hotel.
“Leader McConnell tripped at a dinner event Wednesday evening and has been admitted to the hospital and is being treated for a concussion. He is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days of observation and treatment,” said David Popp, communications director for Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY), in a statement reported by CNN. “The Leader is grateful to the medical professionals for their care and to his colleagues for their warm wishes.”
The Dallas Express reached out to Popp along with other members of McConnell’s office for additional comment but received no response by press time.
The incident reportedly occurred at the Waldorf Astoria Washington, D.C., formerly known as the Trump International Hotel. McConnell, 81, was attending a dinner for the Senate Leadership Fund.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) told reporters, per The Associated Press, that McConnell delivered his remarks “as usual.”
“Evidently it happened later in the evening,” said Thune. “We have very limited information. … I’m sure we’ll get more.”
McConnell’s office has yet to provide additional information regarding the senator’s condition or how long he could be absent from Congress.
On Thursday morning, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) expressed his support for McConnell from the Senate floor. He said he called McConnell and spoke with his staff “to extend my prayers and well wishes,” as reported by The Associated Press.
“I joined every single one of my colleagues in wishing Leader McConnell a speedy and full recovery,” Schumer said.
McConnell became the longest-serving Senate leader when the 118th Congress convened in January, breaking the previous 16-year record. He was first elected to Congress in 1984.
Multiple members of the Senate have been hospitalized recently. Last week, Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), 89, was hospitalized for shingles and released on Tuesday. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), 53, was hospitalized on February 8 for depression after having suffered a stroke while on the campaign trail last year.
