Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, froze up throughout a press convention on Wednesday and needed to be led away by aides. His spokesperson later claimed the 81-year-old “felt momentarily lightheaded.”
McConnell had been talking on the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce authorities discussion board in Covington for about 20 minutes earlier than the episode, in line with the native TV station WLWT. A video one in every of their reporters posted on X, previously Twitter, reveals McConnell’s eyes rolling up and his mouth hanging open for a second.
An aide walked up and requested the senator if he was all proper. Then she winked on the reporters and mentioned, “I’m sorry y’all we’re gonna want a minute.” McConnell managed to focus and reply, softly, to a different query however then appeared to not hear the subsequent one.
A second aide got here up and helped him off the rostrum, the place he “caught himself as if he have been about to fall as he approached a chair,” in line with WLWT.
BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell showing to have one other scary episode within the media gaggle in Covington at present. Aides needed to step in to assist him out and repeat questions. He was ultimately lead away. We’ll have the complete video on @WLWTpic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV
— Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) August 30, 2023
McConnell “felt momentarily lightheaded and paused throughout his press convention at present,” his spokesperson mentioned in an announcement afterward. The senator “feels superb” however will seek the advice of a physician previous to his subsequent occasion, the spokesperson added.
It was the second such episode in simply over a month for the highest Republican within the US Senate. He had frozen mid-sentence throughout a press convention on Capitol Hill in late July, prompting hypothesis of a partial seizure or a stroke.
The 81-year-old Kentuckian has additionally suffered three falls simply this yr, probably the most critical of which resulted in a concussion and a damaged rib, placing him in restoration for six weeks.
McConnell leads the Republican minority within the US Senate, and has been on pleasant phrases with the ruling Democrats – together with President Joe Biden, who was his Senate colleague for over 20 years.
Requested about McConnell’s well being, Biden advised reporters on the White Home that he supposed to name the senator later within the day, describing him as “ good friend, no joke.” Biden is 80 and has had issues strolling and talking as effectively, although the White Home has insisted he’s in peak well being.
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