Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s second freeze-up this summer in front of reporters Wednesday has prompted calls for his resignation from some lawmakers and prominent political figures—as the source of the episodes remains a mystery and his office has said little to alleviate growing concerns.
(L-R) Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) reaches out to help Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) ... [+]
McConnell, 81, appeared to freeze up and did not speak or move for nearly 30 seconds on Wednesday during a press conference in Covington, Kentucky, when a reporter asked what his thoughts were on running for re-election.
McConnell’s office said after the incident that the senator felt “momentarily lightheaded”— the same response they offered the first time McConnell appeared to freeze up during a press conference in July.
While two House GOP members called on McConnell to step down following Wednesday’s incident, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), no senators or prominent Republican officials joined in the calls.
McConnell’s allies came to his defense: Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told CBS on Wednesday he expects him to “continue to be the Republican leader through his term,” while Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.)’s spokesperson Ryan Wrasse told Politico McConnell “sounded like his usual self and was in good spirits” when he spoke to Thune after the episode on Wednesday.
Some Republican political figures outside of Congress joined the calls for McConnell’s resignation, including GOP pollster Frank Luntz, who suggested on CNN Wednesday it may be time for McConnell “to pass on the torch to another generation,” adding that the response from McConnell’s office was “insufficient.”
After McConnell’s first freeze-up in front of reporters at the Capitol in July, when he stopped speaking for about 19 seconds before briefly retreating from the podium and returning several minutes later to continue taking questions, his office similarly said he felt “lightheaded” and later told reporters he plans to serve his full term as Senate GOP leader through the end of next year. McConnell also sought to dismiss the issue in July, telling reporters he felt “fine” and joking that he was “sandbagged,” a reference to President Joe Biden’s trip and fall over a sandbag on stage at a Navy graduation ceremony earlier this year.
McConnell, the longest serving Senate leader in U.S. history, has suffered a series of health issues in recent years, including at least three falls this year—one, at a Washington hotel, that resulted in a concussion and led to a six-week absence from the Senate. He also reportedly fell at an airport in July and during a trip to Finland in February. In 2019, he fractured his shoulder after falling outside of his home in Louisville. As a child, McConnell survived polio, and he underwent triple bypass heart surgery in 2003. The latest incident happened during Congress’s August recess and as lawmakers gear up for a battle when they return next week over the fiscal year 2024 budget, which is due at the end of September.
Congress has no mechanism for replacing a Senate leader, according to Politico, which notes a group of five senators can call a conference to consider the issue. An overwhelming expression of lack of confidence in McConnell could push him to step aside voluntarily. Former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) resigned as majority leader in 2002 amid backlash over remarks he made weeks earlier that were widely viewed as racist. If McConnell resigns from office, the executive committee of Kentucky’s Republican party would recommend three replacements for Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to choose from.
The source of McConnell’s apparent health episodes is unclear. Neurologists told the New York Times following the July incident that he may have suffered a stroke or mini seizure, but McConnell’s office has declined to provide details. His spokespeople said Wednesday he planned to see a doctor before his next event.
Mitch McConnell Abruptly Freezes And Leaves Press Conference—Aide Says He Felt ‘Lightheaded’ (Forbes)
McConnell Freezes–Again–At Press Conference Amid Questions Over Health (Forbes)