Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) issued an apology on Friday for calling the Capitol Police on a reporter who was asking about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) health.

McConnell has been hospitalized since June. 14. Aside from two statements, McConnell has largely kept his constituents in the dark about his health, prompting Kentucky’s Gov. Andy Beshear (D) to demand that he verbally address the people of Kentucky and prove he can serve or resign.

On Thursday, TMZ DC reporter Charlie Cotton posted a video to Twitter in which he tried to ask Ricketts about his absentee colleague’s health.

Ricketts told the reporter that “we should give Mitch the time to recover,” adding that “we are praying for him” before motioning to Capitol Police, saying, “stop them,” referring to Cotton and another journalist, claiming they were harassing him.

“These guys are not — only he’s with me, these two are not,” Ricketts told Capitol Police, slapping the back of the staffer with him.

When Cotton pointed out that he is a reporter, Ricketts told the officer that he must go through security.

“I already have been through security, sir!” Cotton called after the fleeing senator. Law enforcement blocked him from chasing the senator.

In a post on Friday, Ricketts said he “reacted poorly,” and he appreciated Cotton for “taking my phone call so I could apologize.”

Cotton said he accepts Ricketts’ apology, adding, “I respect anyone who can take accountability when they make a mistake. Thank u for the call – I look fwd to our next conversation.”