Top US Republican Senator Mitch McConnell freezes during press conference, sparking health concerns
- The lawmaker, 81, appeared to seize up mid-sentence before being walked away by aides and fellow senators
- The veteran Kentucky politician, who had fallen and suffered a concussion in March, later returned and told reporters he was fine after the freezing incident
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US Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell freezes during press event
Top US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell sparked health concerns on Wednesday when he appeared to physically seize up at a press conference in Congress.
McConnell, 81, froze in mid-sentence and stood motionless at a microphone for about 20 seconds before aides and fellow senators walked him away.
But the veteran Kentucky politician returned several minutes later and told reporters “I’m fine” before taking questions on various political issues.
McConnell has been the top Republican in the US Senate since 2007, and wielded unflinching power as Senate majority leader from 2015 to 2021.
In that role he stifled policies of the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama and bolstered Republican president Donald Trump when he took office in January 2017.
