АНУ-ын Сенатын гишүүн асан, Бүгд найрамдах намын томоохон төлөөлөгч Митч Макконнеллийн биеийн байдлын талаарх мэдээлэл ил тод бус байгаа нь улс төрийн хүрээнд шүүмжлэл дагуулж байна.
Өдгөө 84 настай сенатор 40 хоногийн турш эмнэлэгт хэвтэн эмчлүүлж байгаа бөгөөд түүний ажлын албанаас нөхцөл байдлын талаар хангалттай мэдээлэл өгөхгүй байгаа нь олон нийтийн дунд янз бүрийн таамаг дэвшүүлэхэд хүргэжээ. CNN сувгийн тайлбарлагч Скотт Женнингс сенаторыг эрүүл мэндийнхээ талаар илүү нээлттэй байж, сонгогчдодоо тогтмол мэдээлэл өгөх нь зүйтэй хэмээн байр сууриа илэрхийлсэн байна. Тэрээр Макконнеллийг албан тушаалаасаа огцрох шаардлагагүй гэж үзэж байгаа ч ил тод байдал нь улс төрийн үйл ажиллагаанд чухал ач холбогдолтойг онцолжээ.
Кентакки мужийн амбан захирагч Энди Бешир сенатороос эрүүл мэндийн байдлынхаа талаар тодорхой мэдээлэл өгөхийг албан ёсоор хүсэж, улмаар олон нийтийн зүгээс шаардлага улам нэмэгдсэн юм. Үүнтэй холбоотойгоор Макконнелл өнгөрсөн долдугаар сарын 12-ны өдөр эмнэлэгт хэвтэн эмчлүүлж буй зургаа нийтэлж, нөхцөл байдлын талаар дэлгэрэнгүй мэдэгдэл хийлээ.
Сенатор уналтын улмаас гэмтэл авч, улмаар уушгины хатгалгаа өвчнөөр хүндэрсэн хэдий ч яс хугараагүй, тархи доргиогүй болохыг мэдэгдэлдээ дурджээ. Тэрээр мөн зүрхний шигдээс болон харвалт өгөөгүй бөгөөд биеийн байдал сайжирч байгаа тул эмч нарын зөвлөгөөний дагуу эдгэрснийхээ дараа Сенатад эргэн орохоор төлөвлөж байгаагаа илэрхийлсэн байна.
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Even CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings believes Senator Mitch McConnell should be more forthcoming about his health, as the 84-year-old has now been hospitalized for 40 days with only sporadic updates from his office.
Earlier this month, Jennings said on air that he had spoken with McConnell for about 20 minutes and believed the Kentucky Republican was preparing “to go back to work.” CNN later distanced itself, with a spokesperson clarifying that Jennings’s remarks reflected “his experience and is not CNN reporting.”
During a segment Thursday night, host Kasie Hunt asked Jennings whether he had spoken again with the former Senate majority leader or whether he had any fresh updates to offer. The conservative contributor — who previously worked on McConnell’s campaigns — said he had not spoken to the senator, but added that he expected more information soon.
“I know he continues to do his rehab activities,” Jennings said. “I know he’s still following doctor’s orders, and my assumption is sometime between now and Monday, they’ll probably issue another update on how he’s coming along.”
Pressed on what McConnell should do, Jennings said more transparency would be “prudent.”
“I think he should routinely update his constituents on how he’s doing and keep people apprised of the issues that he’s looking in on or the work that he’s doing with his staff and just be transparent about the things that he can do even while he’s convalescing and recovering,” the commentator said. “I mean truthfully I think a little transparency on the front here would’ve saved him a whole lot of grief.”
Jennings, though, stopped short of saying the Kentucky lawmaker should resign, noting that he was elected to a full term in 2020.
McConnell, who is set to retire at the end of his current term, was admitted to the hospital on June 14, according to a spokesperson.
For weeks, his office released little information, fueling widespread speculation — including claims by MAGA activist Laura Loomer – that his health was deteriorating.
As rumors spread, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, sent McConnell a letter on July 8 seeking clarity. “Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and wellbeing,” he wrote. “As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health.”
Questions intensified after CNN published video on July 10 that, according to a bystander, shows first responders transporting the senator on a stretcher after being called to his Washington, D.C., home last month for a report about an unconscious person.
Two days later, McConnell finally issued a lengthy statement alongside a photo of himself recovering in a hospital bed with his wife, former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.
In an email to constituents, the 84-year-old said he had been admitted to the hospital after a fall and later developed a mild case of pneumonia.
“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion,” McConnell said. “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 that he will not return to the Senate immediately, but plans to return to the floor when he is able.
