Mitch McConnell Freezes Up During Press Conference, Later Tells Reporters “I’m Fine”

Ted Johnson
·2 min read
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UPDATED, with additional comment: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suddenly froze up while giving remarks during a press conference on Wednesday, raising concerns about his health after suffering a concussion earlier this year.

Reporters were gathered around a lectern at the Capitol as McConnell talked of the Senate’s work this week, but he stopped mid-sentence. He stood at the lectern for about 25 seconds before Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) came forward and said to him, “Anything else you want to say, or should we just go back to your office? Do you want to say anything else to the press?” McConnell then stepped away, with Barrasso escorting him.

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Later in the press conference, McConnell returned. CNN’s Manu Raju asked him, “What happened at the start of the press conference? Was it related to your injury from early this year when you suffered a concussion.”

“No, I’m fine,” McConnell said. He then went on to answering questions about other topics.

The 81-year-old senator returned to the Capitol in April, after suffering an injury from a fall a month earlier.

Later on Wednesday, McConnell said that President Joe Biden “called to check on me.” McConnell then quipped, “I told him I got sandbagged.” That was a reference to Biden’s stumble over a sandbag at a commencement address last month. McConnell continued to insist, “I’m fine.”

NBC News reported that McConnell tripped and fell while exiting a plane at Ronald Reagan National Airport earlier this month. He also has been using a wheelchair in crowded areas, as a precaution, the network reported.

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