McConnell says he’s ‘completely recovered’ after freezing incidents

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday that he has “completely recovered” after a pair of freezing incidents over the summer that raised questions about his health and ability to lead the Republican conference. 

“I’m fine. I’m completely recovered, and I’m just fine,” the 81-year-old told CBS “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan. “I’m in good shape, completely recovered, and back on the job.”

McConnell’s remarks came less than two months after his most recent incident when he froze while answering questions from reporters in his home state. The prior freeze happened while speaking in the Capitol a month earlier. 

The leader’s team chalked up both incidents to him being lightheaded. 

Brian Monahan, the Capitol’s attending physician, ruled out a stroke or a seizure, or that McConnell has Parkinson’s Disease, according to a letter released following his examination of the leader. 

The incidents took place after McConnell suffered a concussion and a broken rib after falling during a dinner in March. The incident sidelined the Kentucky Republican from work at the Capitol in the subsequent weeks. 

McConnell, who appeared on the CBS program to discuss the effort to pass an aid package to bolster Israel and Ukraine, declined to comment when pressed Sunday over his ability to serve in the future.

“I think we ought to be talking about what we were talking about earlier rather than my health,” he told the moderator.