Don’t hold you breath.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican Minority Leader from Kentucky, confirmed on Sunday that he has fully bounced back following two episodes earlier this year where he seemed to momentarily lose focus, sparking concern regarding his physical well-being and his capacity to continue guiding the Republican group.
“I’m doing well. I’ve made a full recovery, and everything is okay,” McConnell, 81, assured the host Margaret Brennan on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “I’m healthy, fully recovered, and active in my role again.”
These comments were made in the wake of an episode less than sixty days ago, where McConnell appeared to pause unexpectedly while responding to journalists in his native Kentucky. An earlier similar instance had occurred at the Capitol the month before.
Those close to the leader attributed both events to moments of dizziness.
After a thorough check-up, Brian Monahan, the chief medical officer at the Capitol, determined that the incidents were neither caused by a stroke nor a seizure, and also confirmed that McConnell does not suffer from Parkinson’s Disease, as detailed in a correspondence made public after his assessment.
These episodes followed a previous injury where McConnell had a concussion and a fractured rib due to a fall at a dinner event in March, leading him to take a brief hiatus from his duties at the Capitol.
Appearing on the CBS show to deliberate on the proposition of an assistance initiative for Israel and Ukraine, McConnell chose not to engage in speculation regarding his fitness to continue his service when questioned further on Sunday.
“I believe the focus should be on the topics we’ve been discussing, not my health,” he redirected the conversation to the host.
