Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Sen. John Thune (R-SD) look on as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks during a news conference after a closed-door lunch meeting with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol January 31, 2023 in Washington , DC.
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellR-Ky., was hospitalized after stumbling into a hotel Wednesday night.
“This evening, Leader McConnell tripped at a local hotel during a private dinner. He has been admitted to the hospital where he is receiving treatment,” David Popp, his spokesman, said in a statement.
McConnell dropped out after an event for the Senate Leadership Fund — a Republican super PAC aligned with McConnell and the GOP leadership — at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, two senators who attended told NBC News.
Vito Maggiolo, a spokesman for the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, said Thursday morning that an “adult male” was transported from the Waldorf Astoria at 9:17 p.m. Wednesday and the call was dispatched after a report of a fall. at the hotel. The person was transported to a local hospital and “notes did not indicate the patient’s condition,” he said.
he said he could not specify whether the person who fell was McConnell or what hospital he was taken to, citing privacy concerns under a federal law that restricts the release of medical information.
A senator told NBC News on Thursday that they have been in contact with a McConnell family member. “I can tell you he’s going to be fine,” the senator said.
In remarks on the Senate floor Thursday morning, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he called McConnell and spoke with his staff.
“My thoughts this morning go out to my good friend Leader Mitch McConnell, who is recovering in the hospital after an accident last night,” Schumer said. “This morning I am praying for strength and healing for the leader and his family. I called the leader this morning and spoke briefly with his staff to extend my prayers and best wishes.”
Several senators said Thursday that they have yet to hear from McConnell and do not have information on his condition.
“No, I haven’t spoken to him directly,” Senate Minority Whip John Thune, RS.D., told reporters.
“It was an SLF event,” said Thune, a McConnell ally, adding that he was at the reception with McConnell but did not witness the fall as he left after the reception for another event.
McConnell stayed for the SLF dinner, Thune said. “I mean, we have I think very limited information on that.”
Another Republican senator told NBC News that they have tried to find out more about McConnell from Senate leadership but haven’t heard back.
“No, we haven’t heard anything,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. “No one has passed anything on to either of us. We haven’t heard.”
“We will have a briefing today at lunch,” Tuberville added.
2019, McConnell suffered a shoulder fracture after he tripped and fell at his home in Kentucky. The GOP leader underwent surgery for the fracture.
The incident was first reported by Punchbowl Newsa political news website.
McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and 2020 was re-elected to serve a seventh term.
He was the Senate Majority Leader from 2015 to early 2021, when the Democrats became the majority after the 2020 election.