U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. The incident comes months after the Kentucky senator suffered a brain injury after a fall.
McConnell was presenting an opening statement during a press conference on July 26 when he suddenly stopped speaking mid-sentence.
Footage of the press conference shows the 81-year-old senator appearing unable to speak as he stared straight ahead for about 30 seconds while colleagues looked on with concerned expressions on their faces.
Senators Joni Ernst, John Barrasso, and John Thune stepped in moments later to support McConnell and check on his condition. Barrasso placed his hand on McConnell’s arm and asked if he had anything more to say to reporters. McConnell appeared to say “no” and was then escorted away.
McConnell’s colleagues stepped up to the podium to continue the press conference.
A few minutes later, McConnell returned to finish the presser. He responded that he was “fine” when reporters questioned him about his health, according to NBC 5 DFW. An aide for McConnell told the news outlet that McConnell had stepped away because he felt “light-headed.”
This incident comes only four months after the senator suffered a head injury and broken ribs following a fall. McConnell was attending a dinner event at the Waldorf Astoria Washington in March when he tripped and fell, resulting in his hospitalization for a concussion, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
He was released from the hospital a week later and returned to senate proceedings the following month.
McConnell has held his seat as U.S. Senator for Kentucky since 1985.
