Back when SNL picked on everybody and wasn’t so liberally biased, there was a great skit performed by Republican Senator John McCain. He makes the same point Mick makes. It’s hard to find the video, but I found a link below. It’s the top video on the page. It’s worth watching.
Don’t think the Democrats haven’t ever done that. On both sides of the aisle, too many of them do whatever they can to stay in power. Biden is a prime example.
It’s not the first time somebody in Congress has been AWOL. Not to mention Sen Feinstein staying in office up until she passed away. She was pretty much useless her last month/years in office.