Following a freeze during his
public appearance, McConnell is
pressured to retire early.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McCo-
nnell appeared to freeze during a public
television appearance last week render-
ing him incapable of response. This is
his second incident of this nature which
has raised many questions concerning his
health and made him the center of politi-
cal news as of late.
According to the attending physician
of Congress, there is “no evidence” that
he suffered a seizure disorder, stroke or
Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Brian Monahan
wrote in a letter to McConnell, “There is
no evidence that you have a seizure disor-
der or that you experienced a stroke, TIA
or movement disorder such as Parkinson’s
disease.” Monahan uses the abbreviation
TIA here to refer to transient ischemic at-
tack, or a mini-stroke. According to Mo-
nahan, McConnell also underwent a brain
MRI, an EEG study that is used to detect
any abnormalities in the electrical activity
of the brain and consultations with sever-
al neurologists. Monahan’s overall expla-
nation for McConnell’s freezing is that he
has been experiencing “occasional light-
headedness” from dehydration and a pre-
vious concussion after falling at a hotel
in Washington. McConnell has also had
multiple falling incidents over the past
year: once at a Washington, D.C., airport
on July 14 and another time in February
during an international trip.
This explanation has not been satis-
factory for many who still question the
lawmaker’s health. Sen. Rand Paul, a
physician himself, claims, “I don’t think
it’s been particularly helpful to have the
Senate doctor describing it as dehydra-
tion, which I think even a non-physician
seeing that probably isn’t really accepting
that explanation.”
When McConnell was asked if he was
medically competent to continue doing
his job by reporters Wednesday, he re-
sponded, “I have nothing to add to that, I
think he pretty well covered the subject,”
in reference to Monahan’s letter.
McConnell has a history of keeping his
health private. In 2019 he suffered from
a fractured shoulder due to a fall in his
home state of Kentucky that required
follow-up surgery. In 2020, he displayed
bruised hands and a puffed lip as he
walked around the Capitol and proceeded
to ask Kentucky voters for another six-
year term just a few weeks later. He eas-
ily won his reelection, the term of which
does not expire until 2027 when he will
be 84. In his campaign, he never once ad-
dressed the bruises and we do not know
their origin.
Both his age and a series of health is-
sues have led some conservatives to float
the idea that he should step aside as leader
and consider taking an early retirement
from the Senate.
McConnell’s response when asked by
the press about stepping from his position
seemed resolute, “I’m going to finish my
term as leader, and I’m going to finish my
Senate term, thank you.”
Democrats, who once would have con-
sidered McConnell nearly their nemesis,
have seemed to find a new perspective
on McConnel due to their current shared
interests. Sen. Chuck Schumer said to
reporters when asked about the Republi-
can’s health, “I’m very glad to see Mc-
Connell back.” The looming government
shutdown and foreseen clashes ahead on
the issue of Ukrainian aid have made Mc-
Connell somewhat indispensable to the
Democrats. His skills as a legislative tac-
tician and political stature make him in-
valuable to both sides and his willingness
to aid in the navigation through congres-
sional conflicts is becoming ever more
valuable.
Sen. Kevin Cramer said about McCo-
nnell and Senate Democrats, “He is the
devil they know and a very pragmatic
leader,” and he asserted, “There is no one
more shrewd.”
His current goals seem to be perfectly
in tune with the desires of the Democratic
senate, as he is a stalwart backer of main-
taining the financial aid for Ukraine and
he seems desperate to avoid a government
shutdown. Without McConnel’s influence
and record to keep his party on board with
the goals, the Democrats seem anxious
about their prospects for the term.
Biden has also been a public advocate
for McConnel maintaining his position
in the Senate, as he was among the first
to reach out to McConnel last week and
later assured the public of his condition
and ability to continue on. This is not ter-
ribly surprising though as Biden has a
track record of negotiating with McCon-
nell and he seems to be viewed overall in
the White House as dependable in a crisis,
despite his tendency to be more reserved
