"As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time... And on the advice of my doctors, I won’t be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet," said US Senator Mitch McConnell.

The veteran Republican senator from Kentucky has been hospitalized for nearly a month. Speculation about the octogenarian's health has been rampant.

Senator’s office has released only sparse details about hospital stay, leaving fevered speculation to fill vacuum