Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell's prolonged absence from the US Senate remains a contentious political topic in the country. Moreover, it has put the Senate Republicans in a tough spot, as McConnell has missed several key votes after his June 12 hospitalization.
The Senator's office maintains that he is currently in rehabilitation following his discharge from the hospital. Multiple proof-of-life photos have been released, even as critics of his staff continue to demand video proof.
Furthermore, it has far from eased the questions that Senate Republicans have been facing about Mitch McConnell's Senate absence - now for over 72 days. And to compound their headache, a new video has surfaced purportedly showing the Senate Republican leaders being aware of the troubles that Mitch McConnell had been facing a week before he was hospitalized.
A video from a US Senate voting session from June 6, 2026, was shared by independent journalist Desirée Townsend. She explains, based on the video, that Senate Majority Leaders John Thune and John Barasso were allegedly aware that Mitch McConnell was having problems casting his vote.
Townsend claims in the clip a Senate assistant who was in conversation with Mitch McConnell's handler during voting required clarification from Senators Barasso and Thune before McConnell's vote was cast. She explains in the clip that Senators Thune and Barasso can be seen walking up to the Senate assistant, and the three of them then allegedly help out Mitch McConnell's handler regarding where to cast the vote.
Townsend added that "Thune and Barrasso did not appear to spend any meaningful amount of time speaking with McConnell. That makes the reports of their roughly 20-minute conversations with him while he was hospitalized particularly intriguing."
Townsend is not the first to point out that Senator Mitch McConnell was having problem while voting in the Senate, often appearing confused. TMZ earlier published a video from the same June 4 voting session where McConnell can be seen voting "yea" before being told that his vote was incorrect. He then changes his vote to 'nay.'
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More
