Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) abruptly froze at a press conference Wednesday before he was ushered away from the podium—raising questions about the 81-year-old lawmaker’s health months after he recovered from a concussion and broken rib from a fall at a Washington hotel.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) reaches out to help Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) after ... [+]
McConnell stopped mid-sentence as he was delivering remarks to the media about the Senate’s ongoing negotiations surrounding its annual defense spending bill.
His Republican colleagues asked McConnell if he was OK before Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) led him away from the gaggle.
Minutes later, McConnell returned to the podium and was asked by the press if the incident was related to the concussion he suffered in March.
“No, I’m fine,” McConnell told the reporter and answered “yep, yep” when asked if he was fully able to do his job.
An aide told NBC News McConnell “felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment,” adding “he came back to handle Q&A, which as everyone observed was sharp.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.