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Capitol Physician Releases Details Regarding Sen. Mitch McConnell’s Recent “Freezes”


The Capitol’s physician has released details regarding Senator Mitch McConnell’s recent medical episodes and it’s not what most people expected.

Capitol physician Brian Monahan has reported that Mitch McConnell’s recent freezing episodes were not a result of a stroke or a seizure disorder.

Monahan shared that he conducted several tests on McConnell which included brain MRI imaging, an EEG study, and having several neurologists look at McConnell’s case.

The physician concluded, “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.”

Here’s what The Hill reported:

Brian Monahan, the Capitol’s attending physician, said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) does not have a seizure disorder and did not suffer a stroke after a medical episode last week.

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McConnell’s office released a letter Tuesday from Monahan to the GOP leader outlining the results of an exam.

McConnell froze for the second time in recent months last week when a reporter in Covington, Ky., asked him about his political plans when his term is up in 2026, leading to concern about this health. A spokesperson for the GOP leader said that the 30-second freeze came after he became “lightheaded.”

“My examination of you following your August 30, 2023 brief episode included several medical evaluations: brain MRI imaging, EEG study and consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment,” Monahan said. “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.”

“There are no changes recommended in treatment protocols as you continue recovery from your March 2023 fall,” Monahan added.

A number of top Senate Republicans spoke with McConnell following the incident, with many in recent days continuing to signal strong support for the longest serving leader in the history of the upper chamber.

Per CNN:

The Capitol’s attending physician, Brian Monahan, said in a new letter that there is no evidence Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has a seizure disorder – or that he experienced a stroke or a movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease – after the 81-year-old Kentuckian was evaluated by a group of neurologists following two recent health scares in front of TV cameras.

The new letter, released by McConnell’s office Tuesday, comes after he froze in front of cameras for the second time in as many months, raising questions about whether the GOP leader could continue to hold his powerful position atop the Senate GOP Conference. After he froze last week in Covington, Kentucky, McConnell was evaluated by four neurologists, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Monahan said in the Tuesday letter that he consulted with McConnell’s neurologists and conducted several evaluations, including brain MRI imaging and a test that measures electrical imaging in the brain.

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