Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, has expressed doubts regarding the conclusions drawn in the Capitol attending physician’s letter concerning Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s recent episode of freezing up. Dr. Brian Monahan, the Capitol attending physician, confirmed in a letter on Tuesday that he had examined McConnell following his public incident in Covington, Kentucky, last week. In his letter, Monahan stated that there was no evidence to suggest McConnell had a seizure disorder, experienced a stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or a movement disorder like Parkinson’s disease.
Monahan had previously mentioned that he had consulted with McConnell and conferred with the senator’s neurology team, determining that McConnell was medically fit to continue with his planned schedule. He noted that occasional lightheadedness could be expected during concussion recovery and due to dehydration.
Speaking to reporters, Senator Paul, who is also a practicing eye doctor, emphasized the importance of transparency regarding senators’ health issues. He questioned the Capitol doctor’s explanation of McConnell’s freeze-up, stating that he could only comment on the information released to the public and highlighted the limitations of relying solely on an electroencephalogram (EEG) to diagnose seizures.
Paul contended that the Capitol doctor had not provided a valid medical diagnosis, referencing the widely viewed video clips of McConnell’s incident and suggesting that it might not be as simple as dehydration.
Regarding McConnell’s workload and leadership abilities, Senator Paul refrained from offering a direct opinion but emphasized that his concerns were centered on the public handling of the diagnosis rather than questioning McConnell’s ability to serve.
In subsequent remarks to NBC News, Paul reiterated his position, emphasizing the need for diagnoses to be based on facts and asserting that prolonged unresponsiveness is not a symptom of dehydration.
Senator McConnell’s apparent health issues, including the recent freeze-up, have raised questions about his ability to lead Senate Republicans. This episode marked his second public freeze-up in two months, with a previous incident occurring during a leadership news conference. McConnell also experienced a fall and concussion in March that led to a six-week absence from Senate duties.
Some Republican colleagues, including Senators Thom Tillis, Mitt Romney, Lindsey Graham, and Kevin Cramer, expressed support for McConnell, stating that they had no concerns about his capacity to lead. They emphasized his effectiveness in various leadership roles and his continued ability to serve the GOP.