A version of this story appeared in the On Background newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive On Background delivered directly to your inbox each Friday.
A new letter Tuesday from the attending physician in Congress rejects speculation that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is suffering from a seizure disorder or Parkinson’s disease following two recent episodes in which he froze up in public.
Dr. Brian P. Monahan said he conducted an extensive medical evaluation of Mr. McConnell after he appeared unable to move or talk during an Aug. 30 press conference in Covington, Kentucky.
The exam included brain MRI imaging, EEG study and “consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment,” Dr. Monahan said.
Dr. Monahan wrote to Mr. McConnell on Tuesday that he found no evidence of the various brain disorders some had suggested could be ailing the 81-year-old Kentucky Republican.
“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,” Dr. Monahan wrote.
Mr. McConnell plans to return to work when the Senate gavels back in Tuesday amid speculation about the future of his party’s leadership.
The Covington incident marked the second time Mr. McConnell froze up in public this summer. He appeared unable to talk in July during a press conference in the Capitol.
Both instances were blamed on his recovery from a concussion suffered in a fall in March. The recovery from the fall kept him absent from the Senate for six weeks, triggering backroom talks about a succession plan.
Last week, some Republicans, including presidential candidate Nikki Haley suggested Mr. McConnell is too old and should step aside.
“You have to know when to leave,” Mrs. Haley, 51, said.
But Mr. McConnell, who is the Senate GOP’s longest-serving leader, is showing no indication he plans to leave his leadership post and his top deputies as well as rank-and-file Republicans are backing his decision.
He recovered quickly in both instances where he froze up and has been dismissive of concerns that the incidents are tied to serious health problems.
Sen. Mike Rounds, 68, of South Dakota said Sunday that Mr. McConnell is still “perfectly capable” of carrying out his leadership position.
“There’s a lot of folks out there who would like to see him go, but that’s because he’s a very capable leader. He’s one of these kind of guys that if you can take him out of the leadership role in advance, you might end up in a better position if you were a competitor of his,” Mr. Rounds told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
He also said that “on the Republican side, we all understand that he’s good, he’s good for our party.”
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.