Mitch McConnell sprains his wrist and cuts his face after falling in DC
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suffered a sprained wrist and a cut to his face after falling Tuesday in Washington, according to his office.
McConnell is "fine," according to Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who spoke in McConnell's place at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. A spokesperson for the senator said McConnell has been cleared to resume his schedule.
“Leader McConnell tripped following lunch," his office said. "He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist."
McConnell fell in a room outside the chamber where Senate Republicans had gathered for lunch, according to Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. He then walked to his office, according to Barrasso.
The longtime Republican leader first took office in 1985 and has served in the U.S. Senate ever since. He announced in February plans to step down from his post as the GOP's Senate leader at the end of the year, a position he's held since 2007.
McConnell and his staff have been largely reticent about his health after he was hounded with questions last year after freezing for roughly 28 seconds during a July 2023 press conference on Capitol Hill. He did so again for about 18 seconds during a press conference in Kentucky in August 2023.
Paste BN reported three additional incidents in which the senator fell in 2023 – two did not result in serious injuries, but one fall in March 2023 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, D.C., sidelined him for roughly six weeks after suffering a concussion and broken ribs. McConnell also underwent surgery in August 2019 after a fall at his home in Louisville, where he fractured his shoulder.
He's previously used a wheelchair as a safeguard at certain points, which a spokesperson in 2023 described as "a prudent and precautionary measure in a crowded area."
Contributing: Phillip M. Bailey, Zac Anderson
Reporter Hannah Pinksi contributed. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.