Mitch McConnell Insists He's 'Completely Recovered' After Bizarre Health Scare

Mitch McConnell defended his decision to go back to work despite having suffered several concerning health issues.

On the Sunday morning, October 22, installment of Face the Nation on CBS, the 81-year-old politician said he was doing well after freezing up on more than one occasion during recent press conferences.

"I'm fine. I'm completely recovered, and I'm just fine," McConnell assured viewers. "I'm in good shape, completely recovered and back on the job."

"I think we ought to be talking about what we were talking about earlier, rather than my health," he added, attempting to veer the topic away from his medical history.

As OK! previously reported, McConnell was in the middle of a July conference at Capitol Hill when he froze mid-sentence and stopped speaking for at least 30 seconds. Senator John Barrasso asked him, "Hey Mitch, anything else you want to say? Or should we just go back to your office? Do you want to say anything else to the press?"

After it became clear that something strange was happening, he was quickly ushered away by a staffer. When he returned, he was asked whether the moment could be linked to a head injury that occurred earlier this year, McConnell simply replied that he was "fine."

However, McConnell froze up for a second time in August, leading to additional speculation on the state of his health and whether he should continue his duties as Senate minority leader.

"Leader McConnell felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today," the politician's spokesperson confirmed, with an aide noting, "While he feels fine, as a prudential measure, the Leader will be consulting a physician prior to his next event."

The doctor later informed McConnell that he was "medically clear to continue his schedule as planned."

"I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team," U.S. Capitol physician Dr. Brian Monahan said in a statement per CNN. "Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration."

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President Joe Biden also confirmed that he'd spoken with McConnell and understood that his reaction was a common issue for patients that had recently had concussions.

"One of the leading women on my staff’s husband is a neurosurgeon," Biden said at the time. "It’s not at all unusual to have a response … When you got a severe concussion, it’s part of recovery. And so I’m confident he’s going to be back to his old self."