WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell appeared to briefly freeze up and was unable to reply a query from a reporter at an occasion in Kentucky on Wednesday, weeks after he had an identical episode in Washington.
In response to video from an area information station, the 81-year-old McConnell was requested whether or not he would run for reelection in 2026. The senator requested the reporter to repeat the query earlier than trailing off and staring straight forward for about 10 seconds.
A lady standing on the entrance of the room with McConnell requested him whether or not he heard the query and he or she repeated it. When McConnell didn’t reply, she introduced to the room that “we’re going to want a minute.” McConnell ultimately answered two further questions — although not the one a couple of 2026 marketing campaign — and was halting and appeared to have some issue talking. The girl then ended the information convention and McConnell left the room, strolling slowly.
McConnell’s response was much like the time when he froze for about 20 seconds at a information convention within the Capitol in late July. He went again to his workplace with aides after which returned to reply extra questions.
The newest incident in Covington, Kentucky on Wednesday provides to the questions in latest months about McConnell’s well being and whether or not the Kentucky Republican, who was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and has served as GOP chief since 2007, will stay in his management publish.
His workplace mentioned afterward that McConnell was feeling “momentarily lightheaded” and would see a doctor earlier than his subsequent occasion. Equally, after the July episode, aides mentioned McConnell was lightheaded and McConnell informed reporters a number of hours later that he was “high-quality.” Neither McConnell or his aides have given any additional particulars about what occurred.
In March, McConnell suffered a concussion and a damaged rib after falling and hitting his head after a dinner occasion at a lodge. He didn’t return to the Senate for nearly six weeks. He has been utilizing a wheelchair within the airport whereas commuting forwards and backwards to Kentucky. Since then, he has appeared to stroll extra slowly and his speech has sounded extra halting.
McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has lengthy acknowledged some issue as an grownup in climbing stairs. Along with his fall in March, he additionally tripped and fell 4 years in the past at his residence in Kentucky, inflicting a shoulder fracture that required surgical procedure.