Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, faced another episode of speech difficulty during a press event on Wednesday, marking the second occurrence in just a few weeks where he abruptly paused and required assistance from those around him.

The incident took place in Covington, Kentucky, as McConnell was asked about his thoughts on running for reelection. Initially, he appeared to struggle to hear the question, but then he froze at the lectern and remained silent for approximately 30 seconds. Even when a member of his staff approached him to inquire about his response, he did not seem to immediately react.

An aide intervened during the pause, saying, "All right, I’m sorry, you all. We’re going to need a minute." Following this, McConnell seemed ready for another question and was asked about Daniel Cameron, Kentucky's Republican attorney general, who is running for governor. In a low voice, McConnell replied, "I think the governor’s race is going to be very close," after his aide repeated the question loudly into his ear.

McConnell then received one final question regarding former President Donald Trump's recent indictment in Georgia before stepping away from the lectern.

This is the second time this summer that McConnell has experienced such an episode. A similar incident occurred on July 26 in Washington, D.C., where he froze and temporarily could not speak during a news conference. In that instance, fellow senators came to his assistance, and after a brief pause, he returned to the lectern and continued addressing reporters.

When questioned about whether this health issue was related to a concussion he suffered earlier in the year after a fall at a political fundraiser, McConnell dismissed the connection. A spokesperson for McConnell mentioned that during Wednesday's event, the Senate leader "felt momentarily lightheaded and paused." They also noted that McConnell would be consulting a physician before his next event as a precautionary measure.

These incidents have raised concerns about McConnell's health, particularly as they come at a critical time for Republicans in Congress who are navigating a narrow majority in the House and holding 49 seats in the Senate.

Nathan Conway

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