After McConnell Freezes at News Conference, Senate Republicans Stand by Him

Leader brushed off health questions and went back to work
After August, GOP faces tests on spending bills, Ukraine

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday abruptly stopped speaking and froze in place for about 20 seconds during a news conference in the Capitol.Source: Bloomberg

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By Steven T. Dennis

July 28, 2023 at 4:54 PM UTC

Updated on

July 28, 2023 at 6:29 PM UTC

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Senate Republicans are standing by their longtime leader Mitch McConnell as they leave for the long August recess, brushing off questions about his health after he froze mid-sentence at the start of his weekly press conference on Wednesday.

While senators in both parties expressed concerns about the Kentucky Republican after he suddenly stopped speaking and was escorted away from the microphones, McConnell, 81, so far isn’t facing calls for him to set aside from his leadership duties.