The congressional doctor cleared Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell to return to work Thursday, one day after the 81-year-old froze while speaking to reporters for the second time in two months.
“I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team,” Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of the U.S. Congress, wrote in a statement. “After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned.”
For the second time in about a month, McConnell suddenly stopped speaking when answering questions from reporters. When asked about running for reelection, he couldn’t respond and returned a blank stare, even after an aide repeated the question to him.
“I’m sorry y’all, we’re going to need a minute,” the aide said.
McConnell in July was escorted away by fellow senators after he froze for a prolonged period during a press briefing. In mid-sentence, McConnell stopped speaking and stared into space for about 30 seconds before other senators intervened to ask him if he was alright.
“Do you want to say anything else to the press?” Republican senator John Barrasso, the third-ranking Republican and a doctor, whispered to him before shuffling him away from reporters. After walking with Barrasso for a few minutes, McConnell returned to address reporters, assuring them, “I’m fine.”
In March, McConnell fell at an event in Washington, D.C., suffering head trauma. After receiving treatment for a concussion at the hospital, he was discharged five days later. As a result of having polio as a child, McConnell walks with a limp.
“Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration,” Monahan said Thursday.
Many Republicans have questioned the cognitive function of certain elderly politicians, namely President Biden, who’s had a number of speaking blunders in various addresses and exchanges with reporters.
They also point to 89-year-old Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein, who has a brain condition called Ramsay Hunt syndrome due to complications during her recovery from shingles. Feinstein relies on aides to perform basic responsibilities of her job, sources told the New York Times in May. Democratic Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman also suffered a life-threatening stroke before he was elected, the lingering effects of which caused some gaffes on the campaign trail, including during a debate performance against his then GOP competitor Dr. Oz.