Former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao issued a statement through a spokesperson addressing growing concerns about the health of her husband, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and her decision to stay in China during his hospitalization.
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“The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family’s philanthropic endeavors. During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the US ambassador. The Senator’s health did not warrant an immediate return to the US,” the spokesperson told Louisville station WLKY in a statement on Tuesday.
The spokesperson added that Chao, who left for China on June 12, has since returned to the U.S.
McConnell, 84, hasn’t been publicly seen or heard from since his hospitalization on June 14, igniting questions, concerns and rumors about his condition.
His office has also provided few details regarding his health status, further fueling speculation and calls for transparency. The day McConnell was hospitalized, emergency medical personnel responded to a report of apparent cardiac arrest at his home, according to EMS dispatch audio reviewed by ABC News that did not indicate who was being treated.
McConnell was not named in the audio, and a spokesperson declined to comment to ABC.
“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,” his spokesperson previously told HuffPost’s Jennifer Bendery. “The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”
On Tuesday, multiple Republican leaders including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said they had spoken with McConnell in an apparent bid to dispel conjecture about his condition.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), meanwhile, urged McConnell to “fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health” via a letter on Wednesday.
The Republican senator has previously suffered multiple falls and has frozen up during public speaking appearances.
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