Dispatch audio suggests advanced EMS response at McConnell's DC home
Dispatch audio suggests advanced EMS response at McConnell's DC home
Drew Pittock, USA TODAYWed, July 1, 2026 at 11:15 PM UTC
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Audio from an emergency medical services dispatch call suggests that Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, was reported unconscious at his DC residence last month, prompting an advanced life support response.
The audio, shared to X by journalist Desiree Townsend, was reportedly obtained from DC Fire and EMS.
Here’s what you should know about the recording and McConnell’s health.
Advanced life support response
Townsend, an independent journalist covering Capitol Hill, posted the audio from an EMS dispatch call to her X account on June 30.
In it, the dispatcher can be heard calling for an “ALS,” or advanced life support response, for someone who is unconscious.
In photos: See McConnell's decades-long career in office
DC Fire and EMS did not immediately return USA TODAY’s request confirming the authenticity of the dispatch audio.
McConnell’s June 14 health scare
The former Senate majority leader, now 84, was admitted to the hospital on June 14, USA TODAY previously reported.
At the time, his spokesperson David Popp told reporters that "Senator McConnell was admitted to the hospital this morning" and "he is receiving excellent care."
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His office still has not confirmed why the lawmaker needed medical attention. His office did not return USA TODAY’s request for comment on the dispatch audio.
The Kentucky Republican is regarded as one of the most influential and consequential American politicians in modern history. He first joined the U.S. Senate in 1984 and served as the Republican leader in the chamber from 2007 through 2024 before being succeeded by Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota.
McConnell announced in February last year that he would retire at the end of his term in 2027.
McConnell’s recent health struggles
McConnell has struggled publicly with his health in recent years.
The senator froze up while speaking with reporters in two 2023 incidents and suffered several falls, using a wheelchair at times as a precaution.
He was also hospitalized in February after experiencing flu-like symptoms, a spokesperson said at the time. He was discharged after eight days.
Contributing: Melina Khan, Jay Stahl / USA TODAY
Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What EMS dispatch audio suggests about McConnell's hospitalization
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