Politician 'living on borrowed time, playing with fire' over bizarre freezing

07 September 2023 , 18:22

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Politician 'living on borrowed time, playing with fire' over bizarre freezing

Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell is "living on borrowed time" and "playing with fire" as he swipes away questions about retiring despite suffering two scary episodes in which he appeared to freeze.

That's according to an expert who spoke to The Mirror after the 81-year-old senator and political heavyweight nixed any hopes of his retirement any time soon, despite two 'freezes' in as many months. It comes as doctors and medical professionals across the country raise concerns about the medical 'clearance' he received from the attending physician in Congress.

"Senator McConnell is living on borrowed time. This is the second episode in weeks where he froze and became mute, which means that there is something seriously wrong with his brain, and it is getting worse. On top of that, he has had several incidents of falling - the one in March necessitating six weeks in the hospital," Carole Lieberman, M.D., M.P.H., a Forensic Psychiatrist/Expert Witness, tells The Mirror.

"Yet, McConnell chose, after this most recent episode, not to get examined by a neurologist. Instead, he saw a Congressional attending physician who spoke to his neurologist and relayed what happened. McConnell is in denial and he is refusing to retire," Dr Lieberman added.

Sen. John Barrasso reaches out to help Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell during a recent scary episode (Getty Images)

A few days ago, Senator McConnell spoke on the Senate floor amid health concerns, saying: "One particular moment of my time back home has received its fair share of attention in the press over the past week, but I assure you August was a busy and productive month for me and my staff back in the commonwealth."

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Brian Monahan, the attending physician of Congress, ruled out Parkinson's disease, a seizure, or a stroke and said the 81-year-old can return to his duties. McConnell's medical assessment included brain MRI imaging and "consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment," according to a letter from Dr Monahan. "There are no changes recommended in treatment protocols as you continue recovery from your March 2023 fall," it read.

McConnell is part of the oldest congressional body in history. Polling in the last few weeks has shown that most Americans believe that political leaders are way too old, and that President Joe Biden, at age 80, is seen as an octogenarian who shouldn't be on the job. McConnell, though, is still years younger than the oldest senator, 90-year-old Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat. He's also eight years younger than the oldest Republican, Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

Senate Minority Leader McConnell has frozen twice at recent press conferences (Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)

"These ‘brain freeze’ episodes are most likely due to Transient Ischemic Attacks where enough blood isn’t getting to his brain. They can foreshadow a more serious stroke. These episodes could also be an aftereffect of his many falls," added Leiberman, noting that this is just an assessment and doctors can't really know what's wrong until they can assess the senior citizen senator.

McConnell has prompted concerns about his health (AP)

"Whatever the underlying cause, the treatment is to go to a neurologist as soon as they happen - do not pass go, and do not collect $200 - as in the Monopoly game. He is playing with fire," said the board-certified neurology expert.

Yelena Mandenberg