Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday he has “completely recovered” following troubling incidents this summer when he froze and was unable to speak in front of reporters.
“I’m fine. I’m completely recovered, and ... just fine,” McConnell, 81, told CBS “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan. “I’m in good shape, completely recovered, and back on the job.”
The lawmaker sparked serious concerns about this health earlier this year during press conferences in July and August. During the first, McConnell abruptly stopped speaking and was unable to begin again before he was escorted away by aides. A month later, the same thing appeared to happen while he was answering questions about his reelection plans.
McConnell was hospitalized for a concussion and broken ribs earlier this year after falling at a dinner.
He has largely declined to discuss his health aside from saying he is “fine” and that he planned to finish up his term in the Senate as usual. The senator added in August that the U.S. Capitol attending physician had cleared him to resume his duties, saying there was no evidence McConnell had a stroke or seizure disorder.
The doctor, Brian Monahan, said at the time that “occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration.”
Brennan asked the lawmaker on Sunday about his ability and desire to serve in the future, but McConnell demurred.
“I think we ought to be talking about what we were talking about earlier rather than my health,” he said, referring to policy discussions earlier in the program.