Sen. Mitch McConnell’s disclosure of new details about the medical issues that have kept him away from the Senate has sparked fresh scrutiny on Capitol Hill, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., questioning whether his prolonged absence is «legal at this point» even as Republicans insist he’ll return when the Senate needs him.

«How is everyone pretending this is normal?» Ocasio-Cortez said to Fox News Digital. «This is not normal. At all.»

«How is it that we have sitting elected members of Congress going missing for months at a time?»

MITCH MCCONNELL BREAKS SILENCE ON MYSTERY HOSPITALIZATION AFTER GRAHAM’S DEATH

The Kentucky senator broke his silence on his previously undisclosed medical conditions that have kept him absent from the Senate since he was first hospitalized on June 14. He posted to social media claiming that his childhood fight with polio contributed to the fall that left him «briefly unconscious» and hospitalized last month, and then was hit with a «mild case of pneumonia» in the midst of his recovery.

«Leader McConnell is tough as nails,» Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said. «This guy survived polio. For days on end, he went through therapy. People have no idea how tough he is. «

McConnell’s silence fueled online speculation about his condition, with unsubstantiated rumors ranging from cardiac arrest to claims that he had died.

«When you’re not very forthcoming with a lot of information, whether it’s personal or professional information, you do leave the conclusion up to conspiracy theorists,» Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said. «And people’s imagination is far greater than reality almost every time.»

Even after McConnell released his statement on his medical absence, including a photo of him with his wife in the hospital, rumors circulated about the senator, claiming he could be in a vegetative state.

MCCONNELL FACES FRESH CALLS TO COME CLEAN ABOUT HEALTH ISSUES

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell paused in the middle of a Wednesday press conference on Capitol Hill. McConnell stepped away from the podium and later returned to say, «I’m fine,» and answer questions. (Pool/Fox News)

The statement also did not address specifically when McConnell would return to the Senate, only stating that he would not «be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet.»

But Republican senators seemed confident that McConnell would return to the Senate floor for key votes, with Cramer even claiming GOP leaders have been in «regular» contact with him throughout his absence.

«Enough of our leadership have regular conversations with him for me to be comfortable,» Cramer said.

«I don’t have any doubt if there was a vote for a Supreme Court justice tomorrow that he’d find a way to be here for that,» Marshall said. «I think he’ll be here when we need him, and I just would never count him out. He’ll be back.»

McConnell, 84, is set to retire next year at the end of his term, but has promised he will be «finishing the job» he was elected to do until then.

«I think that Mitch McConnell has always been exactly who he is right now,» Cramer said.

HOUSE DEM URGES TRANSPARENCY BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AFTER GOP COLLEAGUE REVEALS REASON FOR EXTENDED ABSENCE

«He’s not the most transparent person in the world. He thinks strategically, tactically. He thinks about what serves the institution best — what serves his political ambitions and his political priorities.»

Ocasio-Cortez told Fox News Digital that while medical emergencies can often be inevitable, she believes there needs to be some regulations pertaining to the length of absences, as well as potentially some legislation passed to prevent lawmakers from being able to be absent for long periods.

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«Listen, things do happen,» Ocasio-Cortez said. «People get into medical incidents. If you’re in the hospital, you’re in the hospital. But I do think that there should be some sort of… there’s a line here. And I think almost everyone can agree that it’s been crossed.»

El déficit habitacional en El Salvador se estima entre 400,000 y 500,000 viviendas, según cifras de la Cámara Salvadoreña de la Construcción (CASALCO), citadas por el economista César Villalona, al analizar esta problemática en el programa Enfoque.

Villalona explicó que este rango significa que alrededor de 1.6 millones de personas podrían necesitar una solución de vivienda adecuada, tomando como referencia un promedio de cuatro integrantes por familia.

Villalona comentó que el déficit habitacional no solo refleja la cantidad de viviendas disponibles, sino también el acceso a opciones que se ajusten a la capacidad económica de las familias salvadoreñas.

En los últimos años, el sector construcción ha impulsado proyectos residenciales de gran tamaño, como torres de apartamentos de hasta treinta y cinco pisos en zonas como Santa Elena.

Estos nuevos desarrollos suelen estar dirigidos a sectores de ingresos altos y a salvadoreños que residen en el exterior, con precios de apartamentos que pueden alcanzar entre $300,000 y $500,000.

El economista señaló que la normativa vigente brinda incentivos fiscales a las empresas que desarrollan este tipo de proyectos, incluyendo exenciones en algunos impuestos y aranceles para la importación de materiales y maquinaria.

Esta tendencia ha favorecido el crecimiento del sector, que también impacta en el Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) con residenciales, edificaciones turísticas y torres de apartamentos.

Por su parte, el Ministerio de Vivienda dispone de un presupuesto anual cercano a los $14 millones.

Según Villalona, la mayor parte de estos recursos está destinada a salarios y servicios, alrededor de $12 millones, por lo que la capacidad de construcción pública no alcanza para invertir en el rubro, de acuerdo al economista, con el presupuesto restante apenas se pueden construir entre cuarenta y cincuenta viviendas por año, una cifra que representa un desafío frente a la magnitud del déficit habitacional.

Existen propuestas en el ámbito legislativo, como la presentada por una diputada del partido Vamos, que plantea la participación del sector privado en la construcción de viviendas populares.

Sin embargo, actualmente la mayor parte de las inversiones se orientan al segmento de ingresos altos o a la demanda de salvadoreños en el exterior.

Villalona subrayó que, aunque el sector construcción ha mostrado un desempeño relevante para la economía nacional, el acceso a una vivienda digna sigue siendo una necesidad vigente para numerosos hogares.

Según datos del Banco Central de Reserva (BCR), el sector de la construcción fue el principal motor del crecimiento económico en El Salvador durante el primer trimestre de 2026, contribuyendo a que el PIB creciera 4.8 % respecto al mismo periodo del año anterior.

Durante este periodo, la construcción creció 13.5 %, el mayor incremento entre las diecinueve actividades productivas analizadas.

El avance se atribuye tanto a la inversión pública—con proyectos como el Aeropuerto Internacional del Pacífico, mejoras en el Aeropuerto Internacional San Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez y la modernización del puerto de Acajutla—como a la inversión privada en proyectos habitacionales, comerciales y logísticos.

El informe resalta que la colaboración entre sectores público y privado, junto con criterios técnicos y planificación sostenida, ha sido clave para mantener el ritmo del sector. Este auge ha generado efectos positivos en otras actividades como el transporte, el comercio y los servicios administrativos, fortaleciendo los encadenamientos productivos y potenciando el desarrollo económico del país.

Following the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., South Carolina’s Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s younger sister, Darline Graham, to fill his seat for the remainder of his term, continuing a legacy of family members stepping in to take the reins of power from their kin.

When Darline is sworn in on Tuesday afternoon, she will become the latest example of a U.S. lawmaker sliding into a seat vacated by a deceased family member.

Rep. Julia Letlow

Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., is a favorite of President Donald Trump and has his backing in her ongoing campaign to represent Louisiana in the U.S. Senate.

«DID YOU CALL 911?» TUBERVILLE RECOUNTS GRAHAM’S FRANTIC FINAL PHONE CALL

Her political career began years ago when Julia’s husband, Luke Letlow, died from COVID-19 complications in December 2020, just over a month after residents of Louisiana’s 5th district had voted him in as their congressman.

Though Luke Letlow was never sworn into office, his widow picked up the torch, running in and winning the 2021 special election to fill the House seat.

GRAHAM ALLY RIPS ‘THIRSTY’ REPUBLICANS JOCKEYING TO REPLACE LATE SENATOR

Rep. Adelita Grijalva

On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., was also thrust into the halls of Congress after tragedy struck her loved one.

Grijalva’s father, former Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., died of lung cancer in March 2025. Raúl had already announced that he would not be seeking reelection after a 22-year stint in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., speaks before the signing of a moratorium on mining in the area of the Grand Canyon in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. (Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Six months later, Adelita Grijalva won the special election for her father’s seat, defeating Republican candidate Daniel Butierez Sr. by more than 40,000 votes, according to results published by the Arizona secretary of state.

TRUMP REVEALS WHO HE’S EYEING TO REPLACE LINDSEY GRAHAM

Though Democrats cried foul when House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., initially delayed her swearing in, she officially became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 12, 2025.

Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., poses for a photo with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., during a ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol Building on Nov. 12, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Grijalva won a special election to replace her late father, Rep. Raul Grijalva, on September 23. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Erica Lee Carter

Former Rep. Erica Lee Carter, D-Texas, also ascended into Congress as the result of a parent’s passing.

Carter’s mother, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, was a progressive stalwart as the representative from Texas’ 18th Congressional district, which includes parts of Houston, from 1995 until her 2024 death.

President Joe Biden takes a selfie with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, after delivering the State of the Union address on Feb. 7, 2023, in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images)

Though Jackson Lee won the Democratic primary for the 2024 election in March 2024, she tragically died of pancreatic cancer just four months later.

The Democratic Party, including Erica Lee Carter, initially rallied around former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to replace Jackson Lee in the November-scheduled special election. But, shortly after endorsing Turner, Lee Carter changed her mind and decided to run to complete her mother’s term. Turner dropped out and Lee Carter won the election by nearly 100,000 votes, according to results published by the Texas secretary of state.

Rep. Erica Lee Carter talks about her mother during the dedication of 1111 Fannin after Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Lee Carter chose not to run for reelection, finishing her mother’s term in January 2025 and choosing to cede the party’s nomination for the seat to Turner.

Though Turner won the seat and was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025, he would only serve for two months, dying of bone cancer in March.

Mary Bono

Arguably the most famous example of a spouse stepping in for their deceased partner is the tale of Sonny Bono, who for years toured the U.S. with his then-wife, pop icon Cher, as one half of the iconic musical duo Sonny and Cher.

Sonny Bono (1935-1998), an American singer-songwriter, producer, actor, and politician and his then-wife Cher, an American singer, actress and television personality, who together were an American rock duo in the 1960s and 1970s. (Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images)

Bono and Cher would eventually divorce and, after marrying and divorcing a third wife, Bono wed his fourth and final spouse, Mary Whitaker, in 1986.

Sonny ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican in 1994, winning a seat as the representative for California’s 44th district.

But when Bono died tragically in a skiing accident in 1998, his wife, then known as Mary Bono, ran in the special election to fill his seat. Mary Bono ended up serving 15 years in Congress, only losing her seat to Democratic challenger Raul Ruiz in 2013 after her district was redrawn.

Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse, prepares to testify before a Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control hearing in Dirksen entitled «Responding to the Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic» on July 18, 2012. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)

Donald Payne Jr.

In New Jersey, former Rep. Donald Payne Jr., D-N.J., replaced his father, former Rep. Donald Payne Sr., D-N.J., in Congress.

Payne Sr. had represented New Jersey’s 10th district for 23 years, a tenure which was cut short when he succumbed to a fight with colon cancer in March 2012.

Payne’s son, Donald Payne Jr., ran in the special election to replace his father and won.

Darline Graham

McMaster’s decision to tap Darline Graham to replace her brother will make her the first female U.S senator in South Carolina history.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., hugs his sister Darline Graham on stage as he announces his candidacy for U.S. president during an outdoor event for supporters on June 1, 2015, in Central, S.C. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

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When their parents died in 1976 and 1977, Lindsey became his sister’s legal guardian. Accepting McMaster’s nomination for her to replace her brother, Darline vowed to return the favor of his lifetime of taking care of her.

«Lindsey has always been there for me. And now, I will be there for him,» she told a crowd at South Carolina’s statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina on Monday.