A Capitol physician in a letter on Tuesday said he found “no evidence” that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell experienced a stroke or has a seizure or movement disorder like Parkinson’s disease after the Kentucky Republican appeared to freeze up at an event last week.
Speculation and concern about the leader’s health have run rampant in recent days after the incident, which marked the second time in just over a month that the 81-year-old appeared to freeze up while speaking. McConnell’s office has attributed the occurrences to lightheadedness.
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Brian Monahan, the Capitol’s attending physician, cleared McConnell last week to continue on with his schedule after an evaluation.
“There is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA or movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease,” Monahan said in the Tuesday letter, which he said came after several evaluations, including a brain MRI, EEG study and neurology assessment that included consultation with several neurologists.
Senate Republicans were quick to come to McConnell’s defense after the latest incident.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said in a social media post on Thursday that McConnell “is fully prepared to continue leading our caucus” upon the Senate’s return, noting that she had spoken with him earlier in the day. And Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota told CNN on Sunday that there’s “no question” about his comfortability with McConnell remaining in the leadership role, adding that “he’s the right guy in the right spot, and at this stage of the game, I think he’ll continue on.”
