Capitol physicians have deemed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell “medically clear” to continue with his scheduled events.
This comes after the senate leader appeared to freeze for the second time in recent weeks when being questioned by reporters.
The 81-year-old Republican senator from Kentucky had been answering questions on Wednesday about running for another six-year term in 2026 when he appeared to freeze for several seconds after mumbling, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. McConnell was taken away and returned minutes later to finish questions with the help of an aide.
McConnell had a similar incident in July when he appeared to freeze during a press conference. He later announced in the days after that he intended to serve through the rest of the 118th Congress.
Despite these two incidents and the concern for the senator’s health, officials claim that McConnell is well.
Brian Monahan, the attending physician at the Capitol, said on Thursday that the senator is “medically clear,” claiming that dehydration could have played a role in the senator’s claim of being light-headed, per The Hill.
“I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned,” said Monahan in the statement, according to The Hill. “Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration.”
Concerns for the senator’s health and his future as a political leader have been following him since March, when he was hospitalized after sustaining a concussion and broken ribs following a fall.
McConnell’s fellow senators have voiced their support for the senate leader.
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) said he had spoken to McConnell and assessed that he was “doing fine.”
“I don’t know what the underlying issue is, but we all wish him well. We know he’s had a fall, and a concussion, and I think this may be part of the recovery process from that,” said Cornyn, according to The Associated Press. “But I served with him for a long time now, he’s been my mentor, and basically everything I’ve learned about the United States Senate I’ve learned from him.”
