McConnell Breaks Silence on Freeze Incident

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks to the press after meeting President Joe Biden and other leaders at the White House in Washington on May 16, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Sept. 6 that he’s feeling “fine” following a second “freezing” incident that raised questions about his health.

“I’m doing fine,” Mr. McConnell told The Epoch Times on Capitol Hill, just before his leader remarks to the upper chamber of Congress.

In Mr. McConnell’s second on-camera episode, which occurred on Aug. 30, the 81-year-old was unresponsive to questions from reporters for about 30 seconds.

In July, the senator suddenly stopped speaking while taking questions from reporters during his weekly news conference in the Capitol. During that incident, he remained silent for about 20 seconds before being escorted out of the press conference.

Mr. McConnell, a childhood polio survivor, suffered a concussion and broken ribs when he tripped and fell at an event in March. He was hospitalized and, following therapy, returned to the Senate the following month.

When he resumed speaking after freezing on Aug. 30, Mr. McConnell said that the Kentucky gubernatorial race in November would be “close” and that Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the Republican nominee, is the best candidate the GOP could have put up. The state’s governor, Andy Beshear, is up for reelection.

Mr. McConnell answered one more question, about former President Donald Trump’s latest indictment. He declined to comment about the former president, who has been indicted four times, or on the 2024 presidential race.

An aide later told The Epoch Times that Mr. McConnell “felt momentarily lightheaded” and paused during his news conference.

“While he feels fine, as a prudential measure, the leader will be consulting a physician prior to his next event,” the aide said.

Later that day, the minority leader was photographed at an event with Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Indiana.

Doctors’ Assessment

Congressional physician Dr. Brian Monahan said that Mr. McConnell was cleared after the second freezing incident to continue his current schedule.

“I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned,” Dr. Monahan’s statement (pdf) reads.

“Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration,” the doctor said.

A Sept. 5 letter to Mr. McConnell from Dr. Monahan further clarified that based on brain MRI imaging, EEG study, and consultations with neurologists, the senator didn’t suffer a seizure when he froze up in front of reporters.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is also a physician, called the health assessment into question, telling a group of reporters on Sept. 5: “I’ve practiced medicine for 25 years, and it doesn’t look like dehydration to me. It looks like a focal neurologic event.

“That doesn’t mean it’s incapacitating, doesn’t mean he can’t serve. But it means that somebody ought to wake up and say, ‘Wow, this looks like a seizure.’”

Public Support From Both Parties

Senate Republican Whip John Thune says he fully supports Mr. McConnell to continue as leader, a sentiment shared by several GOP senators, according to The Hill. But the South Dakota Republican declined to speculate on Mr. McConnell’s future beyond the upcoming election.

Mr. Thune reported this week that he had “a couple of conversations” with Mr. McConnell and that he “sounded great.”

When asked whether he would support Mr. McConnell’s continuing as a leader beyond the next election, Mr. Thune said, “That’s so far out there I don’t even want to start speculating about that, but he has my full support, and he’ll have the support of the conference.”

President Joe Biden said on Aug. 31 that he isn’t worried about Mr. McConnell’s capacity to serve.

“I spoke to him today. He was his old self on the telephone,” the president told reporters at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters.

When asked whether he had doubts about Mr. McConnell’s leadership abilities, he responded, “No, I don’t.”

President Biden, who will turn 81 in November, has worked with Mr. McConnell for decades, beginning with their tenure in the Senate.