BREAKING NEWS
McConnell ‘Abruptly’ Freezes at News Conference, Escorted Away (Video)
U.S. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze up during his weekly press conference and needed assistance to leave the podium.
“Odd moment,” reports Nexstar’s Raquel Martin. “McConnell freezes at start of Senate GOP leadership press conference and is escorted to the side by his colleagues.”
Odd moment: McConnell freezes at start of Senate GOP leadership press conference and is escorted to the side by his colleagues pic.twitter.com/hT5bLnstOS
— Raquel Martin (@RaquelMartinTV) July 26, 2023
“During a Senate Republican press conference, Leader Mitch McConnell began speaking, took a long pause, then was helped away from the podium before Senator Thune took over,” reports Fox News Radio White House and Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Schmelz. “Leader McConnell eventually left the room and later returned.”
During a Senate Republican press conference, Leader Mitch McConnell began speaking, took a long pause, then was helped away from the podium before Senator Thune took over. Leader McConnell eventually left the room and later returned. pic.twitter.com/G9LrcbSXHV
— Ryan Schmelz (@rschmelztv) July 26, 2023
NBC News producer Frank Thorp V:
Flag: McConnell just stopped abruptly during his opening statement during the gop leadership presser and appeared to be unable to restart talking. He then stepped away and walked away with Barrasso: pic.twitter.com/f1kFUjggzm
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 26, 2023
NBC News reports McConnell “suddenly stopped speaking during a weekly Republican leadership news conference on Wednesday afternoon, appearing to freeze, and then went silent and was walked away.”
“Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming escorted McConnell away from the cameras and reporters,” NBC adds. “Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa made a sign of the cross as if she was praying for McConnell.”
He returned “minutes later” and “said he was fine.”
McConnell, who turned 81 in February, began his political career in 1968. He has been the U.S. Senator from Kentucky since 1985. Five years ago he became the longest serving Senate Republican Leader.
Should McConnell decide to retire, Kentucky’s Democratic Governor would not be allowed to replace him with a Democrat, thanks to a McConnell-backed law state Republican lawmakers passed in 2021. Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed it, but the GOP majority legislature overrode his veto.
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