The U.S. Capitol physician says 81-year-old Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s health episodes show no evidence of being a stroke or seizure disorder
with his planned schedule. McConnell arrived Tuesday at the Capitol office. But the episodes have fueled quiet concern among Republican senators and intense speculation in Washington about McConnell's ability to remain as leader.
The long-serving senator fell and hit his head at a political dinner this year, sufferingIt all comes amid a swirl of health concerns in Washington, particularly as COVID-19 cases show signs of rising heading into fall.over the weekend, but President Joe Biden tested negative. Nevertheless, many Republican allies have flocked to McConnell’s side, ensuring the famously guarded leader a well of support. Rivals have muted any calls for a direct challenge to McConnell’s leadership. McConnell is expected to address the Senate as it opens for a flurry of fall activity, most notably the need forto approve funding to prevent any interruption in federal operations by Sept. 30, which is the end of the fiscal year. Some House Republicans are willing to shutdown the government at the end of the month if they are unable to enact steep spending restrictions they are fighting for that go beyond the agreement Biden reached with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this summer. In leading Senate Republicans, McConnell is viewed by the White House and Democrats as a potentially more pragmatic broker who is more interested in avoiding a messy government shutdown that could be politically damaging to the GOP. McConnell has also made it a priority to ensure Ukraine continues to receive support from the U.S. as it battles Russia, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mounting a counter-offensive.for Ukraine and U.S. disaster relief for communities hit by fires, floods and other problems, including the fentanyl crisis, is being proposed by the White House, but it is being met with skepticism from some Republicans reluctant to help in the war effort. McConnell’s health has visibly declined since the concussion in March, after which he took some weeks to recover. His speaking has been more halting, and he has walked more slowly and carefully. First elected in 1984, he became the longest serving Senate party leader in January. The question posed before he froze up last week was about his own plans, and whether he would run for re-election in 2026. McConnell had been home in Kentucky at the time keeping a robust political schedule, speaking frequently to the public and press. Before freezing up last week, McConnell had just given a 20-minute speech with no issues. Similarly, when he froze up during a press conference at the Capitol last month, he took a short break in his office and then returned to microphones field about a half-dozen other questions and banter with the press.This story has been corrected to show the spelling of the doctor’s surname is Monahan, not Moanhan or Monohan. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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