What occurred to Mitch McConnell? What we learn about falls, wheelchair
Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell is as soon as once more being hounded with questions on his well being after freezing for roughly 28 seconds throughout a press convention on Wednesday.
The 81-year-old Kentucky Republican, who’s the longest-serving party leader in Senate historical past, needed to be escorted away from a lectern by colleagues in a startling second that got here four months after he suffered a concussion and a damaged rib from a fall in March.
However McConnell has fallen a minimum of two different occasions this 12 months — as soon as at a Washington, D.C. airport on July 14 and one other time throughout a international journey in February — a supply near the senator who’s acquainted with his work habits confirmed with USA TODAY.
A McConnell spokesperson famous the GOP chief has nonetheless been strolling across the Capitol for the previous few months, delivering ground remarks and main media stakeouts. However as a safeguard he has been utilizing a wheelchair in sure circumstances.
“That is merely a prudent and precautionary measure in a crowded space,” the McConnell spokesperson informed USA TODAY
What concerning the different falls?
Earlier this month, McConnell tripped and fell whereas getting off of a airplane at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport, the supply near the GOP chief confirmed. He was not severely injured and was later seen on the Capitol, according to NBC News, which initially reported the story hours after Wednesday’s incident.
McConnell additionally fell in February during a trip in Finland as a part of a U.S. delegation, the supply additionally confirmed. He reportedly dusted himself off and continued his actions, according to CNN, which first reported that fall.
Different lawmakers who had been a part of the delegation mentioned the incident didn’t have an effect on the assembly with Finland’s president or different international officers.
“Completely not. We had been all strolling in collectively. It was a dimly lit room and there was a threshold that if I had been the primary via, I would have in all probability hit the ground,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., informed USA TODAY.
McConnell’s concussion in March
McConnell, a polio survivor, has for years walked with a noticeable limp and infrequently has been assisted by aides and others when strolling up and down the steps.
In 2019, he tripped and fell at his home in Louisville, Ky., struggling a shoulder fracture.
However essentially the most severe damage that we learn about got here this 12 months after a fall on the Waldorf Astoria resort in Washington, D.C, which sidelined McConnell for roughly six weeks. In that incident he slammed his head and suffered a concussion and damaged ribs.
Did McConnell see a physician?
A concussion is one other title for a traumatic mind damage that affect an individual’s imaginative and prescient, stability, speech, reminiscence, feelings and extra.
What’s unclear is what, if any, medical remedy McConnell has obtained for the March accidents or another fall that he is suffered this 12 months.
The Republican chief’s workplace has not responded to USA TODAY’s questions on whether or not he has seen a doctor or plans to see one after Wednesday’s startling episode.
As a substitute, they emphasize how McConnell stays lively in his duties as minority chief. Later Wednesday night, for instance, he attended a reception for Main League Baseball and on Thursday met with the prime minister of Italy.
Specialists describe concussions as invisible accidents that may be arduous to correctly acknowledge or deal with with about 90% of the signs resolving inside two weeks. However in some case these signs additionally linger for weeks with persistent post-concussion syndrome persisting for greater than three months.
McConnell, probably the most highly effective Republicans within the nation, has stiff armed questions on his well being saying he’s tremendous when peppered with questions by reporters.
McConnell: ‘I obtained sandbagged’
However the longtime senator, first elected in 1984, did joke concerning the incident on Wednesday when telling reporters that he spoke with President Joe Biden, a political foe and private buddy who has additionally been dogged by questions on his age and well being.
“The president known as to check out me, and I informed him I obtained sandbagged,” McConnell mentioned.
The remark refers to Biden’s well publicized fall at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation in June, which the 80-year-old president appeared to journey on a black sandbag that was on the stage.
Reporter Ken Tran contributed to this story.