By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-22 22:16:49 | Updated at 2024-12-23 03:41:35
5 hours ago
Public backlash has erupted online after a 'missing' Republican congresswoman Kay Granger was found in a dementia care facility.
The bombshell report revealed the 81-year-old Texas Representative, who hasn't cast a vote in six months, was discovered at a memory care facility after reportedly being found wandering lost and confused through her neighborhood, according to an investigation by the Dallas Express.
Kay Granger, 81, who was set to wind up a nearly 30-year career in the House in January, was reportedly living in the $4,000-a-month nursing home for the past six months.
The news ignited fury over elderly politicians holding onto power and has sparked debate over America's aging political class, with both President Joe Biden, 81, and Donald Trump, 78, facing repeated questions about their mental fitness for office.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 82, has also faced intense scrutiny after several concerning public episodes where he appeared to freeze mid-sentence.
Tesla billionaire Elon Musk took to X, formerly Twitter, to demand basic cognitive testing for elected officials.
Meghan McCain chimed in on X, writing: 'Don't tell me political media isn't a broken hellscape when a well known congresswoman can just go missing for six months and then show up in a dementia care facility. Like a congresswoman not showing up for 6 months wasn't noticed or worth writing about?!'
Co-Owner of Trending Politics Collin Rugg called out Senator Mitch McConnell, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi as well.
Kay Granger, 81, who was set to wind up a nearly 30-year career in the House in January, was reportedly living in the $4,000-a-month nursing home for the past six months
The news ignited fury over elderly politicians holding onto power and has sparked debate over America's aging political class, with both President Joe Biden , 81, and Donald Trump , 78, facing repeated questions about their mental fitness for office
'Senator Mitch McConnell, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and now Rep. Kay Granger are taking falls and losing their cognitive abilities as they refuse to leave office,' he wrote.
'McConnell: Busted his face open and hurt his wrist after a fall. Pelosi: Broke her hip requiring emergency surgery after falling down stairs. Granger: Was found in a senior care facility after people started noticing that she was 'missing,' according to the Dallas Express. We deserve better.'
Political consultant Ryan James Girdusky said many insiders in DC knew about the news for 'some time.'
'This is very sad but people in DC knew it for some time. A friend in DC lived in the same building as Rep. Granger and said she could be found roaming the halls, asking people if they knew where she lived. Dementia is absolutely terrible.'
Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales commented on the news on Face The Nation claiming he was unaware that Grander was in a facility.
'Sadly, some of these members wait until things have gone too far," regarding aging members of Congress.
The news broke after Carlos Turcios, a reporter for the local outlet, started to do some research by contacting her offices which never once responded to calls, going directly to voicemail.
Granger's constituency office was also a complete ghost town upon a visit, with no signs of anyone working there.
Eventually, one of Granger's constituents suggested to the Dallas Express that the Congresswoman was living in an assisted living facility.
She was reportedly living at a care home that specializes in memory loss after she'd been 'found wandering, lost and confused' in her district.
A visit to the Tradition-Clearfork in Fort Worth resulted in two employees confirming that Granger lives there.
'This is her home,' said Taylor Manziel, the Tradition-Clearfork's Assistant Executive Director.
With a month remaining in her term and important votes still taking place in Washington daily, local officials are furious to discover her absence.
'The lack of representation for CD-12 is troubling to say the least,' said Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French.
'At a time when extraordinarily important votes are happening, including debt ceiling, disaster relief, farm bills and border issues, Kay Granger is nowhere to be found.
A visit to the Tradition-Clearfork in Fort Worth resulted in two employees confirming that Granger lives there
The news ignited fury over elderly politicians holding onto power and has sparked debate over America's aging political class, with both President Joe Biden , 81, and Donald Trump , 78, facing repeated questions about their mental fitness for office (Trump poses for a photo with Rep. Kay Granger)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. wore a bandage on his face as he walked to cast a vote on the Senate floor after falling during a luncheon on Capitol Hill on Dec. 10
'The margin in Congress is razor thin and the lack of a Republican vote representing CD-12 disenfranchises 2 million people. We deserve better.'
'The fact that Kay Granger is unable to leave her nursing home to participate in the most important congressional vote of the year suggests she was already in visible decline when she ran for re-election in 2022,' said Rolando Garcia, a Republican Committeeman in the district.
'A sad and humiliating way to end her political career. Sad that nobody cared enough to “take away the keys” before she reached this moment and a sad commentary on the congressional gerontocracy.'
The Congresswoman and her staff presumably continue to take in their taxpayer-funded salaries.
The space in which she's been living for the past half year charges over $4,000-per-month in rent, according to 360 West.
