The incident took place about four months after McConnell fell and suffered a concussion and a broken rib at a private dinner at a Washington hotel.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday abruptly left a news conference after he froze midway through his opening remarks and appeared to be unable to resume speaking immediately.
McConnell began the GOP’s leadership weekly news conference by saying lawmakers were on a path to finishing a major defense budget bill this week.
“We’ve had good bipartisan cooperation and a string of —” McConnell said.
He then froze and remained silent for about 20 seconds, staring straight ahead, before other members of GOP leadership intervened. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), standing at McConnell’s side, asked whether he was okay, but McConnell did not respond verbally.
“Do you want to say anything else to the press?” Barrasso asked McConnell, before suggesting that McConnell take a break.
“I’ll take him back,” Barrasso said to the other members of the leadership team, guiding McConnell away from the dais.
