Sen. Mitch McConnell released from inpatient physical rehab; plans return to Senate 'soon'

"I want to sincerely thank everyone for all the kind wishes. I’m happy to say I finished inpatient physical therapy earlier today and I’m glad to be home," the statement said, in part.

McConnell says he will not be returning to the Senate right away, but he looks forward to returning to the upper chamber in person "soon." On the advice of his physical therapists, he will spend the "next few days working for Kentuckians and the Republican Conference from home."

The statement also said that McConnell is in frequent contact with Senate colleagues and staff.

The 81-year-old Republican lawmaker was hospitalized March 9 after tripping and falling during an event at at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

Because the Senate begins its long Easter recess Thursday, he may initially return to the Senate when it reconvenes April 17, according to the the Washington Post.

McConnell also tripped in 2019, fracturing his shoulder, as TheBlaze reported. He was at his home in Louisville on his outside patio when the incident occurred.

Also on Saturday, former President Trump said McConnell and other high-level Republican and Democrat political leaders posed a greater threat to the United States than China or Russia. In addition to specifically naming McConnell, Trump also named Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Ny.), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), President Biden, and the Department of Justice as "threats." Trump was speaking at a campaign rally in Waco, Texas.

Another senator, John Fetterman (D-Pa.), remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as he is treated for depression. Sen. Fetterman has been in the hospital for five weeks, as the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Friday.

Fetterman, too, is slated to return to the Senate soon, though his staff provided no specific date.

"He'll be back soon, at least over a week, but soon," Fetterman's communications director, Joe Calvello said Thursday.

As is the case with Sen. McConnell, Sen. Fetterman says his staff members are keeping him up to date as he follows medical professionals' advice and recovers.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has also been absent from the Senate as the 89-year-old receives treatment for shingles, CNN reported.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!