Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) broke his silence Sunday regarding a month-long hospitalization that had sparked intense speculation about his health and future in public service. The 84-year-old lawmaker was admitted to the hospital four weeks ago after sustaining minor injuries during a fall.

Medical Update

In a statement released through his office, McConnell sought to put rumors to rest by specifying exactly what his medical team did—and did not—find during his stay. “My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke,” McConnell said. “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.”

The Office of the Attending Physician provided additional context in a separate statement attached to the same email. According to the congressional medical team, the seven-term senator has experienced several falls throughout this year. Doctors attributed these balance issues to his post-polio condition, a health challenge stemming from a childhood bout with the disease.

Commitment to Service

The disclosure marks the first concrete explanation of the senator’s extended absence, a period that intensified focus on his upcoming departure from Washington. McConnell announced earlier this year that he would step down from the Senate at the end of his current term. In Sunday’s statement, McConnell directly tied his recent health struggles to that choice, while reaffirming his commitment to serving out the remainder of his days in office.

“And part of my decision to retire at the end of my term this coming January was being honest about the demands of Senate work,” McConnell said. “But I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf, and I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do.”

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.