Lindsey Graham’s death triggers scramble to replace him as Congress returns – US politics live

Lawmakers face obstacles, including demands from Trump, Mitch McConnell’s absence and Graham’s sudden death

The US senator Mitch McConnell on Sunday revealed for the first time that a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking the silence about the Kentucky Republican’s condition after weeks of mounting speculation about his health.

McConnell, 84, said in a statement that he has undergone a battery of tests as doctors try to determine what led to his fall. He explained the long silence about his condition by saying that “folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older”.