July 28, 2023
Senator Mitch McConnell, the longtime Republican leader who had a serious head injury in a fall earlier this year, froze midsentence—temporarily unable to speak—during an appearance at his weekly news conference in the Capitol on Wednesday, July 26, and was briefly escorted away from the microphones to recover, reports The New York Times.
In what seemed to be a medical episode, McConnell, 81, appeared to lose his train of thought when beginning his remarks on a pending Pentagon policy bill and was unable to continue speaking. Colleagues and aides waited a few awkward moments before intervening, taking the senator by the arm and leading him away from the microphones.
“Are you good Mitch?” asked Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, a member of the Republican leadership, as McConnell remained silent and gazed around, appearing disoriented.
Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican, quickly stepped in and picked up where Mr. McConnell had left off, followed by the rest of his leadership team.
Aides later said that he had experienced some lightheadedness, but noted that he was able to resume speaking within minutes; and not long after, held his regular weekly meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California. They declined to elaborate on his medical status, including whether he had been examined by a physician in the aftermath of the episode.
McConnell, a Kentucky lawmaker who became the longest-serving Senate leader in history at the beginning of the year, has moved more slowly and struggled with hearing loss since he fell at a Washington hotel in March during a fund-raising event, sustaining a concussion. His allies have rejected any suggestion that his abilities have declined, saying he remains in charge in private sessions. They expressed confidence again on Wednesday.
“I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized,” said Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 3 Republican and a medical doctor; who escorted Mr. McConnell to his office on Wednesday after the minority leader fell mute. “And he has made a remarkable recovery. He’s done a great job leading our conference, and he was able to answer every question that the press asked him today. And, you may note, he answered more questions than he normally does.”
After the fall, in which he also broke a rib, McConnell spent time in a rehabilitation center and was absent from the Senate for more than a month before returning. The Republican leader, who had polio as a child, has always tread carefully and avoided stairs but has been noticeably more careful since his recent injuries when moving around the Senate.
He has taken a step back from the dominant role he has played at the helm of his party in the Senate for decades. He kept his distance from intense negotiations between the White House and congressional Republicans earlier this year on a deal to avert a catastrophic federal debt default, ceding the issue entirely to Mr. McCarthy.
McConnell speaks less frequently at the weekly closed-door Republican luncheon in the Capitol, according to attendees.
And in recent days, he has sometimes been less active in the Senate’s legislative work. It was Thune, who is widely regarded as a potential successor, who led negotiations for Republicans on the structure of the debate on the annual Pentagon bill, a role usually relished by McConnell, who is keenly interested in military policy.
Wednesday’s episode was clearly alarming to colleagues accompanying him at what is known as the weekly stakeout following the closed party lunch. It took a few moments for both members of the news media and the Senate to recognize that McConnell was struggling, since he often picks his words carefully at media events and has a penchant for remaining silent when he does not wish to respond to a question. On a few recent occasions, Mr. McConnell, who uses hearing aids, also seemed to have difficulty hearing questions directed to him.
But on Wednesday, it was obvious that something else was the matter.
“Is there anything else you want to say, or should we just go back to your office?” Barrasso asked McConnell during the episode, taking him by the arm. “Do you want to say anything else to the press?”
Research contact: @nytimes
