Top US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell freezes up, leaves press
conference
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[July 27, 2023]
By Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Top U.S. Senate Republican Mitch McConnell froze
up for about 21 seconds while speaking to reporters on Wednesday,
walking away only to return 12 minutes later to say he was "fine."
The 81-year-old Kentucky lawmaker began a regular scheduled press
conference on Wednesday by talking about bipartisan cooperation on a
massive defense funding bill only to freeze up for 21 seconds, standing
still and staring straight ahead before his colleagues leaned in to ask
if he was well.
"Are you OK, Mitch? Anything else you want to say or should we just go
back to your office?" Senator John Barrasso asked McConnell, the
longest-serving Senate party leader in history, before McConnell turned
and walked away with the help of Barrasso, a physician.
McConnell, the minority leader, rejoined the press conference about 12
minutes later, saying, "I'm fine" and answering reporters' questions on
other topics.
He batted away a question about who might succeed him in leadership.
A McConnell aide said that the senator had felt light-headed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Jul/27/images/ads/current/nutrienag_sda_HEROES_2023.png)
McConnell, whose six-year term runs through 2026, had been sidelined
from the Senate earlier this year after he tripped at a Washington
dinner on March 8 and was admitted to a hospital for treatment of a
concussion. He also suffered a minor rib fracture and was later moved to
a rehabilitation facility. He returned to the Senate in April.
Many top figures in Washington are of advanced age, with President Joe
Biden running for reelection at 80 and the average age in the Senate
above 64.
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![](../images/072723PIX/news_m26.jpg)
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell (R-KY) addresses reporters following the Senate
Republicans weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington,
U.S., July 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Jul/27/images/ads/current/graue_lda_WHITETRUCKpreowned_070323.jpg)
Democratic U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein was sidelined for months
this year after a bout of shingles that caused complications
including encephalitis and Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can cause
facial paralysis.
Biden, the oldest person to ever occupy the Oval Office, last month
tripped and fell during a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force
Academy in Colorado, but got up quickly and walked back to his seat.
A majority of Americans, some 61%, told a November Reuters/Ipsos
poll that they were very or somewhat concerned that members of
Congress are too old to represent the American people.
Barrasso said that he had been concerned about McConnell since his
fall.
"I've been concerned since he was injured a number of months ago,"
said Barrasso, the No. 3 Senate Republican. "I continue to be
concerned."
McConnell's Democratic counterpart, Senate Majority Leader Chuck
Schumer, said, "I always wish Leader McConnell well."
(Reporting by Richard Cowan, additional reporting by Moira Warburton
and Josephine Walker; Writing by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Scott
Malone and Leslie Adler)
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