The physician overseeing the 535 members of Congress claims that after examining Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell following a pair of recent incidents where he ‘froze’ in silence for several seconds, fit for duty.
Dr. Brian Monahan, the Capitol physician, has released a new update on McConnell’s condition, saying that he doesn’t have a seizure disorder and did not suffer from a stroke.
McConnell experienced a momentary pause for the second time during a press conference in Covington, Kentucky, last week when he was asked about his intention to run for re-election in 2026. And about a month ago, the same thing happened during his weekly press conference on Capitol Hill.
“My examination of you following your August 30, 2023, brief episode included several medical evaluations: brain MRI imaging, EEG study, and consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment,” Monahan said in a letter that was released by McConnell’s office. “There is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA, or movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease.”
“There are no changes recommended in treatment protocols as you continue recovery from your March 2023 fall,” Monahan added.
Several Republicans claimed to have spoken with McConnell after the most recent incident.
“He was in good shape. He was direct. He said, you know, I had that concussion and he said, they warned me that I would be lightheaded in the future and that I’ve got to be aware of it. He said it happened twice, he said, it just so happens I’m doing it in front of reporters. But he felt good yesterday,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said during a Sunday show appearance.
“Dr. Monahan … who is also my physician there at the Senate — he’s sharp. He says it exactly the way that it is. And if he says, you know, Mitch is ready to go, then Mitch is ready to go,” Rounds added, according to The Hill.
“But Mitch will come back in front of us, and he’ll discuss it with the entire team. He’s been busy. He’s been working around his own state, but he’s also been doing the fundraising that is required of a leader, and I think that’s been a big job for him as well during this break,” Rounds noted further.
GOP presidential contender and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said the incident proved to her once again that there should be age limits and functional testing for members of Congress.
She called for “a younger generation” in Congress during an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” pointing out Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who is 90, also has significant health issues.
“At what point do they get it’s time to leave? They need to let a younger generation take over. We want to go and start working for our kids to make sure we have strong national security, to make sure we have a stronger economic policy, to make sure that America is safe. And we can’t do that if these individuals refuse to give up power. This is not just a Republican or Democrat problem. This is a congressional problem. And they’ve got to know when to leave it. It’s time to pass this down to a new generation of conservative leaders that want to take our country to a better place,” Haley said.
She also reaffirmed her support for congressional term limits and mental health screenings for “the entire Congress.”
“Tell us where you were born, name four words that start with the same letter. How many grandchildren do you have? These are basic questions that anyone should be able to answer,” Haley said.
