• Posted September 1, 2023

Sen. Mitch McConnell Cleared for Work After Another 'Freeze' During Media Briefing

After Sen. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell froze for the second time during a Wednesday briefing in Kentucky, Congress' attending physician has cleared him to continue working.

Dr. Brian Monahan said in a statement that he had talked with McConnell and his neurology team, and that McConnell can continue his work schedule.

McConnell, 81, was injured in March when he fell at a dinner event at a Washington hotel. The senator had a concussion and a broken rib.

On two separate occasions since then, McConnell has frozen while speaking publicly, including for about 30 seconds on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

He was “momentarily lightheaded,” McConnell's office told the AP.

“Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration,” Monahan noted.

McConnell has revealed little about his health, but was known to have called his deputies in leadership after the Wednesday incident, the AP reported. His health has visibly declined in recent months.

Some Republican senators have concerns about McConnell's health and whether he will run for reelection in 2026, the AP reported. Most Republican senators have been publicly supportive of McConnell.

The U.S. Senate is not in session at the moment, but it will reconvene soon.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on concussion.

SOURCE: Brian Monahan, MD, attending physician, U.S. Congress, statement, Aug. 31, 2023; Associated Press