New Mitch McConnell photo and statement emerge as mysterious absence endures

Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) office issued another statement, accompanied by a photo of the Kentucky Republican with his wife, as questions continue to swirl about his ongoing absence from the U.S. Senate.

The 84-year-old senator has not been seen since his June 14 hospitalization, and his office issued a second photo showing McConnell sitting in bed wearing a button-down shirt alongside his wife, Elaine Chao, two weeks after the office's last public statement.

“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders," the statement read. "Unfortunately, that means I won’t be able to make it to Fancy Farm, Kentucky this Saturday."

That western Kentucky village is the site of an annual Catholic church picnic held the first Saturday in August that's become the traditional start of the state's fall political campaign season.

“There’s no place I’d rather be on the first Saturday in August than with the good people of western Kentucky, feasting on pork and mutton," the statement continued. "When I first attended forty-two years ago, Fancy Farm was a pretty lonely place to be a Republican. But, my, how times have changed. Today, western Kentucky is a conservative Republican sea of red. So I hate that I’ll miss the fun this year, but I’m sending my best wishes to the St. Jerome community for a successful picnic.

"As always, I appreciate all of your continued well wishes, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon," the statement added.