McConnell largely ignores his public freeze-ups on return to US Senate
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[September 06, 2023]
By David Morgan and Makini Brice
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell
sidestepped questions about his health in his return to the Capitol on
Tuesday, six days after freezing up for a second time while speaking in
public.
The 81-year-old lawmaker addressed the Senate hours after the doctor of
Congress said in a statement that the two episodes did not appear to be
the result of a stroke or seizure, but offered no explanation of what
caused McConnell to stand speechless and wide-eyed during a press
conference last Wednesday.
"Now, one particular moment of my time back home received its fair share
of attention in the press over the past week. But I assure you, August
was a busy and productive month for me and my staff," McConnell said.
He appeared thin and wan on the Senate floor, and spoke in a baritone
that wavered from time to time.
Dr. Brian Monahan wrote in a one-paragraph letter that he had reached
his conclusion after a comprehensive neurological assessment that
included the results of brain MRI imaging, an EEG (electroencephalogram)
study and consultations with several neurologists.
The incidents have raised questions about McConnell's health and his
future as the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. Republican
lawmakers said the physician's letter was part of an effort by McConnell
to be more transparent.
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But the Republican leader ignored repeated questions about his health
from reporters as he made his way to and from the Senate chamber, where
he delivered a six-minute speech that contained a single oblique
reference to the latest incident.
McConnell was sidelined for weeks after he tripped at a Washington
dinner on March 8 and was admitted to a hospital for treatment of a
concussion and a minor rib fracture. He returned to the Senate in April.
"It appears that it's harder to recover from a concussion when you're 81
years old than maybe he thought. But he's, he feels like he's up to the
task and I think that's the case," Republican Senator John Cornyn told
reporters.
"I've told Senator McConnell, I'm going to support him as long as he
wants to do the job and can do the job," added Cornyn, one of several
Republicans who expressed support for McConnell's continued leadership.
In his letter, Monahan wrote: "There is no evidence that you have a
seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA (transient
ischemic attack) or movement disorder such as Parkinson's disease. There
are no changes recommended in treatment protocols as you continue
recovery from your March 2023 fall."
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![](../images/090623PIX/news_t6.jpg)
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell (R-KY) waves as he leaves his Washington house to return
to work at the U.S. Senate, less than a week after he froze for more
than 30 seconds while speaking to reporters at an event in his home
state of Kentucky, in Washington, U.S., September 5, 2023.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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McConnell's office declined to answer a request for further detail
on what doctors believe caused the incidents. His staff released the
doctor's letter as the Senate reconvened after a lengthy summer
recess.
QUESTIONS UNANSWERED
Two neurologists not involved in McConnell's treatment, who spoke to
Reuters, said the MRI and EEG tests would not necessarily rule out
the possibility of a seizure because those tests would not
automatically show evidence of one.
"In most patients with a seizure disorder, an EEG will oftentimes
come back normal in between episodes, and is more helpful to rule in
a seizure if it records some abnormal activity between episodes or
even captures an episode," said Anthony Kim, medical director for
the University of California San Francisco stroke center.
Kim said MRI results often come back normal for seizure patients as
well because they don’t show brain activity.
Twice in the last six weeks, McConnell has frozen up during public
appearances.
The latest incident occurred last Wednesday during a press
conference in Kentucky, where he froze for more than 30 seconds and
stared into space before being escorted away. A similar incident
occurred in the U.S. Capitol on July 26 as McConnell spoke to
reporters.
His office at the time described the events as being the result of
lightheadedness and dehydration.
The Senate will have urgent work ahead, including passing
legislation to keep the government funded past Sept. 30, when the
fiscal year ends.
(Reporting by David Morgan and Makini Brice, additional reporting by
Katharine Jackson, Richard Cowan, Jasper Ward and Patrick Wingrove;
Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller)
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