肯塔基州州长同时致信参议院多数党领袖约翰·图恩，要求对麦康奈尔的健康状况展开调查
2026年7月29日 美国东部时间凌晨1:54 / 福克斯新闻
作者：兰登·米恩
详细报道：AOC质疑议员长期缺席国会是否“合法”，共和党人捍卫麦康奈尔的康复进程
纽约州联邦众议员亚历山德里亚·奥卡西奥-科特兹（民主党籍）认为，当议员缺席国会数月之久时，国会需要提高透明度；而共和党参议员则坚称肯塔基州联邦参议员米奇·麦康奈尔会在必要时重返岗位。（图片来源：尼古拉斯·巴拉西 为福克斯新闻数字频道供稿）
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肯塔基州州长、民主党人安迪·贝希尔要求肯塔基州联邦参议员米奇·麦康奈尔证明自己仍有能力继续在国会履职，否则就应辞职。此前麦康奈尔已住院多日。
在给麦康奈尔的信中，这位州长敦促这位84岁的参议员直接向肯塔基州民众说明自己的履职能力。
“我呼吁你直接、公开地向肯塔基州民众讲话，证明你仍有履职能力，否则就请辞职，”贝希尔在给麦康奈尔的信中写道。
麦康奈尔已出院，但仍未获得“医疗许可”返回参议院
肯塔基州州长安迪·贝希尔要求参议员米奇·麦康奈尔证明自己仍能继续履职。（图片来源：米奇·麦康奈尔办公室）
贝希尔提出上述要求之前，麦康奈尔的办公室于周一宣布，他已出院，但尚未获得医疗许可离开康复机构，而他一直在该机构接受物理治疗，无法返回办公室工作。
这位参议员的办公室表示，他将错过一场肯塔基州重要的政治活动以及即将举行的参议院投票。
“我仍在努力恢复，以重返参议院和肯塔基州的全部工作安排，谨遵医嘱进行高强度的物理治疗。不幸的是，这意味着我无法参加本周六在肯塔基州范西法姆举办的活动……一如既往，感谢大家持续的祝福，我期待着尽快重返参议院和肯塔基州，”麦康奈尔在一份声明中说道。
麦康奈尔于6月14日住院，之后透露是在家中摔倒所致。
“这并不正常”：AOC抨击麦康奈尔长期缺席国会
参议员的办公室表示，他将错过一场肯塔基州重要的政治活动以及即将举行的参议院投票。（图片来源：米奇·麦康奈尔办公室）
“自出院以来，他一直坚持高强度的物理治疗和康复训练，包括每天多次疗程，以恢复体力并降低未来摔倒的风险。他儿时患过的小儿麻痹症仍然对他的行动能力造成重大影响。他尚未获得医疗许可离开康复机构返回办公室，”主治医生办公室在一份声明中说道。
该医生的声明重点关注了麦康奈尔的行动能力、物理康复情况以及未来摔倒的风险，并未提及他的认知状况存在问题。
本月早些时候，在数周没有公开露面之后，贝希尔首次敦促麦康奈尔公布更多关于其健康状况的信息。
这位州长还于周二致信南达科他州联邦参议员、参议院多数党领袖约翰·图恩，呼吁如果这位参议员无法证明自己能够继续履职，就应对其健康状况展开调查。
“只要稍微提高一点透明度，所有这些猜测，乃至这封信，本都可以避免，”贝希尔在给图恩的信中写道。
福克斯新闻数字频道已联系贝希尔、麦康奈尔和图恩的办公室置评。
这位州长敦促这位84岁的参议员直接向肯塔基州民众说明自己的履职能力。（图片来源：瑞安·C·赫门斯/《列克星敦先驱报》/论坛新闻服务 盖蒂图片社）
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自上月住院以来，麦康奈尔的办公室分别于7月12日和7月27日发布了重要更新，每次通知都附有一张照片。
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近年来，公众对年龄较大的民选官员因精神失误和在任内去世的情况加强了审查，此次争议正是在此背景下发生的。
这场争议正值公众对年龄较大的民选官员及其健康透明度的审查加剧之际。加利福尼亚州联邦参议员黛安·范斯坦于2023年在任内去世，南卡罗来纳州联邦参议员林赛·格雷厄姆于本月早些时候去世。前总统乔·拜登在年龄和健康问题成为主要政治议题后，退出了2024年的连任竞选。
本文有美联社记者参与报道。
Kentucky governor calls on McConnell to prove he is fit to serve or resign: ‘Address the people’
The governor also wrote to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, calling for an investigation into McConnell’s condition
July 29, 2026 1:54am EDT / Fox News
By Landon Mion
SEE IT: AOC questions whether prolonged absence is ‘legal’ in Congress as GOP defends McConnell’s recovery
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., argues Congress needs more transparency when lawmakers are absent for months, while GOP senators insist Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will be back when needed. (Credit: Nicholas Ballasy for Fox News Digital)
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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, is demanding that Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., prove he is fit to continue serving in Congress after a lengthy hospital stay or resign from office.
In a letter to McConnell, the governor urged the 84-year-old senator to directly address the people of Kentucky about his ability to serve.
“I am calling on you to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign,” Beshear wrote to McConnell.
MCCONNELL OUT OF HOSPITAL, STILL NOT ‘MEDICALLY CLEARED’ TO RETURN TO SENATE
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is demanding Sen. Mitch McConnell prove that he is fit to continue serving.(Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office)
Beshear made the demand after McConnell’s office announced on Monday that he had been discharged from the hospital but had not yet been medically cleared to leave the rehabilitation facility where he has been undergoing physical therapy and return to office.
The senator’s office said he would miss a major Kentucky political event and upcoming Senate votes.
“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders. Unfortunately, that means I won’t be able to make it to Fancy Farm, Kentucky, this Saturday … As always, I appreciate all of your continued well wishes, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon,” McConnell said in a statement.
McConnell was hospitalized on June 14 and later revealed that it was due to a fall at his home.
‘THIS IS NOT NORMAL’: AOC UNLOADS ON MCCONNELL’S PROLONGED ABSENCE
The senator’s office said he would miss a major Kentucky political event and upcoming Senate votes.(Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office)
“Since his discharge from hospital care, he has maintained a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls. His bout with childhood polio continues to be a significant factor in his mobility. He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office,” the Attending Physician’s office said in a statement.
The physician’s statement focused on McConnell’s mobility, physical rehabilitation and risk of future falls and did not raise concerns about his cognitive condition.
Beshear first urged McConnell earlier this month to release more information about his health after weeks of no public comments.
The governor also sent a letter on Tuesday to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., calling on him to investigate McConnell’s condition if the senator does not prove that he is capable of continuing his term.
“All of this speculation and even this letter could have been avoided with a minimal amount of transparency,” Beshear wrote to Thune.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the offices of Beshear, McConnell and Thune.
The governor urged the 84-year-old senator to directly address the people of Kentucky about his ability to serve.(Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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Since he was hospitalized last month, McConnell’s office has issued major updates on July 12 and July 27, with each notice featuring a photograph.
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This comes amid intensified public scrutiny of aging elected officials in recent years over mental gaffes and deaths in office.
The dispute comes amid heightened scrutiny of aging elected officials and transparency surrounding their health. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., died in office in 2023, while Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died earlier this month. Former President Joe Biden ended his 2024 re-election campaign after concerns about his age and health became a dominant political issue.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.