Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said this week that he received two calls from agencies suggesting Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had died while the longtime Republican leader was hospitalized for nearly a month earlier this year.
In an interview with Katie Couric posted on YouTube on Thursday, Beshear, a Democrat, did not specify which agencies allegedly contacted him or when the calls were made about McConnell's status during his hospitalization that began in mid-June.
"In fact, I'd gotten two calls from different agencies, not state agencies, suggesting he'd passed," Beshear said in the interview. He has served as Kentucky's governor since December 2019.
What the Left Is Saying
Beshear had been among those publicly pressing for more transparency about McConnell's health condition during his extended absence from the Senate.
On July 8, Beshear wrote a formal letter to the 84-year-old senator requesting that he "fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health."
"I'm calling on Sen. McConnell to do the same and provide voters an update on his own health," Beshear wrote in a social media post two days before McConnell's office released a detailed statement about his condition.
The Democratic governor ended that post by urging McConnell to "end the crazy speculation" and "just tell us what's going on."
What the Right Is Saying
McConnell's office has not confirmed or denied receiving calls from Beshear about the alleged false death reports, nor have they commented on which agencies may have contacted the governor.
On July 12, McConnell's office released a lengthy statement providing detailed information about his medical situation after weeks of speculation. The senator clarified that he suffered a fall in June and was being treated for complications including pneumonia.
"My doctors have confirmed that I didn't break any bones or suffer a concussion," McConnell said in the statement. "I didn't have a heart attack or a stroke. I don't have any tumors or hemorrhages."
McConnell's doctor noted he developed pneumonia early in his hospitalization but "responded rapidly to antibiotic treatment." The senator has indicated he intends to return to the Senate, though his office has not provided a specific timeline.
What the Numbers Show
McConnell was hospitalized for approximately four weeks beginning June 14. Emergency dispatch audio from that date indicated he was "unconscious" and may have suffered a cardiac event, though later medical statements confirmed no heart attack occurred.
The senator represents Kentucky in the Senate, where he has served as Republican leader since 2007, making him one of the longest-tenured party leaders in modern congressional history.
The Bottom Line
The episode highlights the challenges that arise when extended health absences occur among high-profile elected officials with significant power. Beshear's public calls for transparency reflected broader concerns about the lack of information forthcoming from McConnell's office during his hospitalization.
Fox News Digital reached out to both Beshear and McConnell's offices seeking additional comment on the alleged death notification calls, but had not received responses at time of publication.