WATCH: Josh Hawley issues blistering rebuke of McConnell over ‘obligation’ to country

By Fox News · Fox News

As questions persist about Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell ’s condition, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., issued a blistering rebuke about his team’s handling of the crisis, reminding them of their "obligation to your constituents." The 84-year-old former Senate majority leader has been absent from the upper chamber for over a month now after a fall at his home left him hospitalized. His absence, coupled with the sudden death of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, leaves Senate Republicans down two crucial votes amid a dead sprint to wrap up key parts of President Donald Trump's agenda. Speaking with Fox News Digital, Hawley, a conservative populist, said he wishes McConnell and his family well and hopes for a recovery. At the same time, however, Hawley said that "at a certain point you do have an obligation to your constituents and the country to tell them what’s going on." MCCONNELL FACES FRESH CALLS TO COME CLEAN ABOUT HEALTH ISSUES "To be down a vote," Hawley continued, "We’ve got a slim majority; it’s not easy." While Hawley said he would "defer" to Senate Majority Leader John Thune , R-S.D., on how to handle McConnell’s situation, he noted that the lack of GOP votes is hurting priorities like the voter integrity measure, the SAVE America Act . "I just hear a lot from leadership that, ‘Well, we don’t have the votes for this.’ Like the voter I.D., we don’t have the votes for that. Well, we might want to do something about that," he said. Hawley also said that he too has been "totally in the dark" about McConnell’s condition and said, "I never had any idea about any of his health stuff." "I hope he recovers, but I also hope that they get the transparency out there to help people know what the situation is," he said. 'THIS IS NOT NORMAL': AOC UNLOADS ON MCCONNELL'S PROLONGED ABSENCE Asked whether he believes McConnell’s condition evidences a need for age limits to serve in office, Hawley quickly shot back, "Well, I’m a term-limit guy, so I’m all for that." "Nothing agains…