Sen. Mitch McConnell seems to freeze once more at a Kentucky occasion

Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze once more Wednesday, this time throughout a gaggle with reporters in Covington, Kentucky, stopping for greater than 30 seconds after he was requested whether or not he would run for re-election.

McConnell, R-Ky., froze in July at a information convention on Capitol Hill, going silent for 19 seconds, earlier than he was escorted away from the cameras. McConnell, 81, returned shortly afterward and continued his information convention, telling reporters, “I’m superb.”

When it grew to become obvious that McConnell had frozen once more Wednesday, an aide went as much as him and requested, “Did you hear the query, senator?” McConnell continued to be unresponsive.

As soon as McConnell re-engaged, he responded briefly to a different query about Kentucky Legal professional Common Daniel Cameron, a Republican; his aide wanted to repeat the query to him. McConnell was then requested about former President Donald Trump, one other query that needed to be repeated. McConnell dismissed the query as a result of he doesn’t often have interaction in Trump-related matters.

He then left. Reporters didn’t ask McConnell in regards to the episode.

“Chief McConnell felt momentarily lightheaded and paused throughout his press convention as we speak,” a spokesperson stated.

An aide stated McConnell “feels superb” however will seek the advice of a physician earlier than his subsequent occasion as “a prudential measure.”

McConnell spoke for about 20 minutes Wednesday earlier than the question-and-answer session with reporters. After the occasion, he made cellphone calls to fellow Republicans in Senate management.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., spoke to McConnell and stated that “the Chief appeared like his ordinary self and was in good spirits,” a spokesperson for Thune stated in a press release.

Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont., additionally spoke to McConnell “and was glad to listen to the Chief seems like himself and is feeling superb,” a Daines spokesperson stated in a press release.

Requested by NBC Information about McConnell’s obvious freeze Wednesday, President Joe Biden stated that he had simply heard about it and that he would “attempt to get in contact with him later this afternoon.”

“Mitch is a pal, as you understand — not a joke. … I do know folks don’t consider that the case, however we’ve disagreements politically, however he’s a superb pal,” Biden stated after he spoke on the White Home about Hurricane Idalia and the Hawaii wildfires.