Josh Hawley criticizes Mitch McConnell over absence from Congress

(NewsNation) — Sen. Mitch McConnell’s absence is drawing criticism from fellow Republicans.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said the 84-year-old Senate majority leader “has an obligation” to tell constituents what’s going on with his health.

In an interview with Fox News Digital published Sunday, the Missouri senator sent well wishes to McConnell, R-Ky., who was hospitalized June 14 after a fall at his home.

But Hawley also urged his colleague to inform the public.

“At a certain point you do have an obligation to your constituents and the country to tell them what’s going on,” Hawley said. “I hope he recovers, but I also hope that they get the transparency out there to help people know what the situation is.”

On July 12, nearly one month after his hospitalization, McConnell released a picture of himself along with a full statement on his condition.

The photo shows him sitting in a hospital bed holding a newspaper beside with his wife, Elaine Chao.

With his absence and the sudden death of the late Sen. Lindsay Graham, Republicans are down two votes with an already slim majority.

“I just hear a lot from leadership that, ‘Well, we don’t have the votes for this.’ Like the voter ID, we don’t have the votes for that. Well, we might want to do something about that,” Hawley said, also noting he “never had any idea about any of (McConnell’s) health stuff.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.