Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) froze for nearly 20 seconds whereas delivering his opening assertion at a management press convention Wednesday afternoon, prompting murmurs of concern amongst his colleagues and the assembled press corps.
McConnell informed reporters the Senate was on a path to finish work on the annual protection authorization invoice and praised what he known as “good bipartisan cooperation” earlier than freezing mid-sentence and staring straight forward with out an uttering one other phrase.
The awkward and probably scary second prompted a pair members of his management staff to achieve out to see if he was OK.
“Are you good, Mitch?” requested Senate Republican Coverage Committee Chairwoman Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), placing her hand on the again of his arm.
“Are you okay, Mitch?” requested Senate Republican Convention Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), a health care provider, who put his hand on McConnell’s proper forearm. “Anything you need to say?
“Let’s return to your workplace,” Barrasso. “Do you need to say anything to the press? Let’s return.”
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McConnell, nevertheless, appeared reluctant to depart the press convention.
Barrasso then exchanged some remarks with considered one of McConnell’s aides and shortly after led the GOP chief down the corridor towards his workplace.
McConnell returned to the press convention earlier than the opposite members of his management staff completed their remarks and took the primary query from reporters, as he often does each Tuesday.
CNN’s Manu Raju requested McConnell to deal with what occurred, and whether or not it was associated to well being results from struggling a concussion earlier this 12 months.
“No, I’m effective,” McConnell answered.
“You’re effective, you’re totally capable of do your job?” the reporter pressed.
“Yeah,” McConnell answered.
He then went on to reply reporters’ questions on an unraveling plea deal between federal prosecutors and Hunter Biden, the prospect of impeachment proceedings within the Home and the schedule for contemplating the annual appropriations payments.
