Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared unwell Wednesday at a news conference with reporters, causing concerns about his health.
The 81-year-old senator froze up midsentence at the start of weekly on-camera remarks at the Capitol.
Mr. McConnell, who earlier this year suffered a concussion and a fractured rib after a fall, stared unresponsively for more than 20 seconds before other Republican senators stepped in to ask if he was all right.
He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate.
Mr. McConnell returned after about 10 minutes and then fielded questions on a variety of issues.
“I’m fine,” Mr. McConnell said.
Asked if he is still able to do his job, he said, “Yeah.”
He declined to answer further questions about the incident or his overall health.
After the press conference, Mr. Barrasso told reporters he “wanted to make sure everything was fine” and walked Mr. McConnell down the hall to his office.
Mr. Barrasso said he has been concerned since Mr. McConnell was injured earlier this year. “I continue to be concerned,” he said.
But asked about his particular concerns, Mr. Barrasso said: “I said I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized. And I think he’s made a remarkable recovery, he’s doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question the press asked him today.”
A congressional aide later told The Washington Times that Mr. McConnell “felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment.”
“He came back to handle [questions and answer], which as everyone observed was sharp,” the aide said.
McConnell’s aides have previously denied any lingering health problems associated with his prior injuries, which resulted in a six-week hiatus from the Senate.
Mr. McConnell and his top deputies chuckled when asked if there is a successor in mind to eventually replace him as the Republican leader. At the start of the new Congress in January, Mr. McConnell broke the record for the longest-serving Senate leader, which was previously held by the late Democratic Sen. Mike Mansfield of Montana. Mansfield served as majority leader for 16 years.
Mr. McConnell has held his seat since 1985.
Mr. McConnell was reelected easily to another term to lead the conference last year, despite a challenge from Florida Sen. Rick Scott. But several Republicans, including No. 2 Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Mr. Barrasso, are seen as waiting in the wings to someday replace Mr. McConnell.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who is also seen as a potential candidate to succeed Mr. McConnell, told reporters after the episode, “I support Sen. McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader.”
Mr. McConnell’s fall in March was the second major injury he suffered in recent years. Four years ago, he tripped and fell at his home in Kentucky, causing a shoulder fracture that required surgery. Mr. McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in climbing stairs.
The Republican leader is one of several senators who have been absent due to health issues this year. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, 90, was out of the Senate for more than two months after suffering from a bout of shingles. And Sen. John Fetterman, a 53-year-old Pennsylvania Democrat who previously suffered a stroke, took a weekslong leave to get treatment for clinical depression.
• This article includes wire service reports.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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