McConnell says fall caused hospitalization as he continues rehab

Sen. Mitch McConnell said Sunday that a fall led to his hospitalization, offering his first public explanation after weeks of questions about his health. The Kentucky Republican said he is now in a rehabilitation center and does not yet plan to return to the Senate.

In a statement reported by The Associated Press, McConnell, 84, said doctors have put him through extensive testing as they try to determine what caused the fall. He said he remains involved in Senate work through his staff while he continues to recover.

McConnell also addressed why he had not spoken publicly in more detail about his condition. According to AP, he said people from his generation often resist discussing the vulnerability that can come with aging, and that he feels the same instinct even while serving in public office.

The statement followed McConnell’s hospitalization on June 14. AP reported that his office had offered limited information for weeks, saying only that he was receiving excellent care and recovering.

As his hospital stay continued, speculation about McConnell’s condition grew online. AP reported that the statement included a smiling photo of McConnell with his wife, Elaine Chao, a response to rumors that he had died or was incapacitated.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, had urged McConnell to provide the public with a transparent update on his health, according to AP. That request came as questions about the senator’s condition intensified during his extended absence.

McConnell said he will not be back in the Senate “quite yet,” AP reported. He did not give a date for his return.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.