Senate Minority LeaderMitch McConnelltold reporters he is “fine” shortly after he stopped speaking mid-sentence during a press conference on Wednesday.
Eventually, McConnell returned to the microphone, where he answered questions about what had just occurred.
“Could you address what happened here at the start of the press conference and was it related to your injury from earlier this year where you suffered a concussion?” one reporter asked — a reference to the Republican’snearly five-day stint in the hospitalin March after taking a fall during a dinner event.“I’m fine,” Sen. McConnell responded.When the reporter then asked, “You’re fine? You’re fully able to do your job?” McConnell responded: “Yeah.”
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty
McConnell’s communications director David Popp said in a statement issued at the time of McConnell’s hospital stay that the Republican would next begin physical therapy at an inpatient rehabilitation facility before returning home.
According to Popp, McConnell’s medical team discovered that the senator had suffered a minor rib fracture during the fall, along with a concussion that caused him to remain in the hospital “for a few days of observation and treatment.” CNN reported that McConnelltripped at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, citing a source familiar with the incident.
“Leader McConnell’s concussion recovery is proceeding well, and the leader was discharged from the hospital today,” Popp said in the statement at the time, adding that, “the leader andSecretary [Elaine] Chaoare deeply thankful for the skilled medical care, prayers, and kindness they have received.”
The senator’s longtime political adviser, Josh Holmes, told NBC News days ahead of his release from the hospital that the Senator was walking around, asking staff questions, and was"eager" to leave and return to work.
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In November, McConnell defeated Florida Sen.Rick Scottin the GOP’s leadership election, making himthe caucus’s longest-serving leadersince 2007.
McConnell’s current term is slated to end in 2027.
McConnell’s health woes come on the heels of health concerns about another long-serving senator — Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who was absent from the Senateduring a two-and-a-half-month recovery from shinglesearlier this year.
Feinstein, now 90, later announced she wouldnot be seeking reelectionbut did intend to serve out the remainder of her term, which ends in 2024.
source: people.com
