“McConnell was admitted to the hospital on the morning of June 14, according to a statement from his office that said that he was “receiving excellent care.” EMS dispatch audio from the morning of June 14 suggests that emergency medical personnel were sent to McConnell’s home to attend to an unconscious person in cardiac arrest. According to the dispatch audio, a call went out at 8:36 a.m. for an “unconscious” person at McConnell’s address, and an ambulance was sent with an advanced life support crew. Six minutes later a medic radioed that CPR was “in progress.” At 8:43 a.m., a dispatcher relayed the emergency as a “cardiac arrest.” McConnell is named nowhere in the recording, though the address is his. The next day, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) — the top two Senate Republicans — told reporters that they had spoken to McConnell…McConnell’s office has been quiet on his condition in the weeks since and has not provided additional information on his treatment or the cause for his hospitalization. On June 22, eight days after McConnell was hospitalized, his office said that he wouldn’t be voting that week “as he continues his recovery.” Thune, on the same day, told reporters that he spoke with McConnell “toward the end of last week” and that McConnell “sounded good and was anxious to get back.” A July 2 statement from McConnell’s office provided little new information but said he was still in the hospital. “The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session,” his office said.”

Meanwhile, McConnell’s wife, Swamp Creature and possible China agent Elaine Chao flew to China right after Mitch ended up in the hospital, a strange decision when the alleged love of your life is fighting to hold on to these mortal coils. It is not so strange if your husband is dead but being kept in deep freeze while your party tries to deceive the public. [Full disclosure: Of all the officials I have had personal interactions with in D.C., Chao treated me the worst by far.]

Initially I assumed that the GOP was doing this because McConnell’s demise or resignation would result in Kentucky’s Democrat governor appointing his successor, but that isn’t the case: Kentucky deals handles these things with a special election. Either way, there is no excuse for playing games with the health of an important public official ( <cough!> Joe Biden) It is unethical, indeed totalitarian. The Soviet Union did this kind of thing with its premiers several times.

Trump acolyte Laura Loomer, who has even less credibility than Sen.Thune and Elaine Chao, has stated online that McConnell is brain dead. (Give me credit for not making the obvious joke.) Needless to say but I’ll say it anyway, not being forthright about the health status of one of their veteran leaders is not the way for the Republican Party to build public trust.

Update: Several people more credible than Laura Loomer have now confirmed that Sen. McConnell is alive and speaking, reportedly more coherently than Joe Biden.