Mitch McConnell was billed as the 'featured guest' — then someone else showed up

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) missed a reception Wednesday where he was billed as the “featured guest,” according to an exclusive Daily Beast report.

“The featured guest was not actually featured at the event,” the outlet observed.

An agenda obtained by the Daily Beast listed the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican as the final featured guest at the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Washington fly-in.

“But McConnell, now in his second week back at work after a 92-day absence, was a no-show,” the Daily Beast reported. “A source tells the Daily Beast that McConnell’s chief of staff, Terry Carmack, who is set to make $226,000 this year, attended in the senator’s place.”

A man the source identified as someone often seen pushing McConnell’s wheelchair was also there, according to the report. McConnell’s office did not respond to the outlet’s inquiry about his absence, and a spokesperson did not confirm who attended.

McConnell was hospitalized in June and missed 60 votes before returning to Capitol Hill in a wheelchair last week. But his return has only drawn further scrutiny.

At a Senate Agriculture Committee meeting last week, McConnell did not respond when his name was called for a vote until Carmack prompted him to vote “aye,” according to the Daily Beast.

The reason McConnell missed Wednesday’s reception remains unclear.