Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has halted a new investigation into his health after being asked about two recent instances in which he appeared to freeze in public.
When asked about the examples of an interview with CBS Newsthe 81-year-old Kentucky representative insisted he has made a “full recovery” and still has the proper abilities to do his job.
However, “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan continued to question the politician about whether there is anything the public should know about his health — prompting a response from McConnell demanding they change the subject.
It was the first time McConnell — the second most powerful person in the Senate — has spoken about the incidents since last month, where he said he has no plans to resign early, even after his most recent episode in August.
Before the investigations into his health, the Republican covered topics from Israel to the race for the House of Representatives, but was visibly put off by Brennan’s subsequent questions. Elected and re-elected several times, he first took office in 1985 and his term does not end until 2027. He has said he has no plans to retire.
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday dropped the investigation into his health after being asked about two instances in which he appeared to freeze in public in recent months
It was the first time McConnell – the second most powerful person in the Senate – has spoken about the incidents since last month, where he said he has no plans to resign early, even after his most recent episode in August ( right), and again in July (left)
“I’m in good shape – fully recovered and back to work,” he said, months after being hospitalized and treated for a concussion following a fall at a D.C. dinner event in March.
‘I’m fine. “I have fully recovered and I am doing fine,” he said.
Brennan further pointed out how members of McConnell’s office made a statement last month about his medical status following his most recent episode the month before — appearing to freeze for about 30 seconds when asked if he would run for re-election in Kentucky.
The statement included a statement from Capitol physician Dr. Brian Monahan who ruled out a seizure, stroke or movement disorder as the cause of the speaker’s second public frostbite incident.
Instead, the DC doctor attributed the incident to dehydration and concussion recovery on the Kentuckian’s part – a prognosis that directly contradicted other doctors’ reported impressions of both of McConnell’s episodes.
Brennan said, “You and your office felt the need to share and make public several details about your health following some of these public incidents. The doctor here said there was no evidence of Parkinson’s disease, or a stroke, or a seizure.’
She further asked, “And I’m wondering, is there anything that the public should know that hasn’t been disclosed?”
At that point, a stoic McConnell said for the second time that he had fully recovered and was mentally and physically competent enough to continue his six-year term.
During the interview, “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan continually questioned the politician about whether there is anything more the public should know about his health — eventually leading to a curt response from McConnell asking if they should change the subject .
Visibly irritated, the Senate’s second-most powerful official responded at one point: “I think we should talk about what we were talking about before rather than my health.”
But Brennan persisted, asking the Senate leader again, “Does this mean you think you’re capable of continuing to serve, and you want to continue to serve here — at a time when we’re talking about incredible dysfunction in Washington?”
The question placed particular emphasis on the word ‘want’ and seemed to visibly alarm the politician.
He replied, “I think we should talk about what we were talking about before, and not about my health.”
The questions about McConnell’s medical condition stopped there, but became increasingly important as the interview progressed.
McConnell — the third-oldest Senate official behind Bernie Sanders and Chuck Grassley of Idaho — first suddenly stopped speaking to the press in July and had to be walked away from a podium after standing still for several seconds at the front.
Another similar incident occurred a month later, after which McConnell received support from his Republican Senate colleagues in his bid to continue serving.
the minority leader was hospitalized in March, where he was treated for a concussion he suffered after falling in front of several colleagues and other officials at a D.C. hotel. He continues to maintain that he can and still wants to do his job
However, the moments caused a Republican, fellow Kentuckian Senator Rand Paul, to worry, telling reporters last month, “Everyone has seen the clips — it’s not a valid medical diagnosis when people say it’s dehydration.”
But as the interview revealed, McConnel has continued to maintain that he can and still wants to do the job, and has repeatedly expressed his desire to do so.
As previously reported, the minority leader was hospitalized in March where he was treated for a concussion he suffered after falling in front of several colleagues and other officials at a DC hotel.