During a press conference, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suddenly froze and appeared unwell while speaking.
McConnell was in the middle of a sentence when the incident occurred.
Following an extended period of silence, the 81-year-old was escorted away from the podium by his staff members.
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McConnell appeared to need physical assistance as he made his way back behind closed doors.
From NBC News:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suddenly stopped speaking during a weekly Republican leadership news conference on Wednesday afternoon, appearing to freeze, and then went silent and was walked away.
McConnell, R-Ky., had been making his opening remarks when he stopped talking. His Republican colleagues asked if he was OK, and Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming escorted McConnell away from the cameras and reporters.
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa made a sign of the cross as if she was praying for McConnell.
A few minutes later, McConnell walked back to the news conference by himself. When asked about his health, he said he was fine.
McConnell’s office didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
It’s unclear if McConnell’s current condition will affect his ability to carry out his senatorial responsibilities, or have any potential long-term impact on the U.S. political landscape. In March, McConnell was hospitalized and was subsequently transferred to a rehabilitation facility following a fall that occurred during a private dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, D.C.
