WASHINGTON--U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell sidestepped questions about his health in his return to the Capitol on Tuesday, six days after freezing up for a second time while speaking in public.
The 81-year-old lawmaker addressed the Senate hours after the doctor of Congress said in a statement that the two episodes did not appear to be the result of a stroke or seizure, but offered no explanation of what caused McConnell to stand speechless and wide-eyed during a press conference last Wednesday.
"Now, one particular moment of my time back home received its fair share of attention in the press over the past week. But I assure you, August was a busy and productive month for me and my staff," McConnell said. He appeared thin and wan on the Senate floor, and spoke in a baritone that wavered from time to time. Dr. Brian Monahan wrote in a one-paragraph letter that he had reached his conclusion after a comprehensive neurological assessment that included the results of brain MRI imaging, an EEG (electroencephalogram) study and consultations with several neurologists.
The incidents have raised questions about McConnell's health and his future as the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. Republican lawmakers said the physician's letter was part of an effort by McConnell to be more transparent. But the Republican leader ignored repeated questions about his health from reporters as he made his way to and from the Senate chamber, where he delivered a six-minute speech that contained a single oblique reference to the latest incident.
McConnell was sidelined for weeks after he tripped at a Washington dinner on March 8 and was admitted to a hospital for treatment of a concussion and a minor rib fracture. He returned to the Senate in April. "It appears that it's harder to recover from a concussion when you're 81 years old than maybe he thought. But he's, he feels like he's up to the task and I think that's the case," Republican Senator John Cornyn told reporters.
