Home | WebMail | Register or Login

      Calgary | Regions | Local Traffic Report | Advertise on Action News | Contact

Login

Login

Please fill in your credentials to login.

Don't have an account? Register Sign up now.

Posted: 2023-09-06T19:39:35Z | Updated: 2023-09-06T19:39:35Z

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was defiant on Wednesday, brushing off calls for him to step down as leader of his conference after he froze in front of reporters last week.

Im going to finish my term as leader and Im going to finish my Senate term, McConnell said at a packed weekly press conference on Capitol Hill.

McConnell offered no new details about his health condition and declined to say exactly what had afflicted him. He said he had nothing to add to a letter from the U.S. Capitol attending physician that cleared him to resume his duties in the upper chamber.

Brian Monahan, the attending physician, said in a note released by McConnells office earlier this week there is no evidence the 81-year-old senator experienced a stroke or has a seizure disorder following his second freeze-up in Kentucky last week.

The doctors note appeared to satisfy the vast majority of the Senate Republican Conference, which expressed support for McConnell this week. But one GOP senator voiced skepticism about Monahans diagnosis.

When you get dehydrated, you dont have moments when your eyes look in the distance with a vacant look and youre sort of basically unconscious with your eyes open, said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is an ophthalmologist.

Paul said he wasnt questioning whether McConnell is able to lead, but instead, the diagnosis itself: It has nothing to do with his fitness to serve and whether hes doing a good job or a bad job.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost

Earlier on Wednesday, McConnell addressed his GOP colleagues behind closed doors about his health, telling them his cognitive ability is not impaired. The senator said he was given a clean bill of health by doctors, according to Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). McConnell also told his colleagues he has only experienced freezing episodes twice.

I was satisfied, Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) said afterward.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost