Former Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., fell on a small set of stairs on Wednesday as he was exiting the Senate chamber after a confirmation vote for Housing and Urban Development secretary nominee Scott Turner.
McConnell, who is 82 years old and a survivor of childhood polio, fell down the stairs and was quickly assisted by Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.
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It is not clear whether he suffered any injuries, but Fox News was told the former leader appears to be OK.
“Senator McConnell is fine. The lingering effects of polio in his left leg will not disrupt his regular schedule of work,” said a McConnell spokesperson.
The senator is currently using a wheelchair out of an abundance of caution.
Wednesday’s fall is the latest in a number of tumbles the longtime former leader has taken over the past few years. Most recently, McConnell fell at the Capitol in December while leaving a Senate GOP luncheon.
The fall wasn’t seen by reporters, however the then-leader was seen in a wheelchair afterward.
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He was not present for the weekly press conference that day, but other GOP Senate leadership members assured that he was okay.
At the time, his spokesperson said, “Leader McConnell tripped following lunch. He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist. He has been cleared to resume his schedule.”
Before the December incident, the leader was treated for a concussion after falling in 2023. This time, he fell at a hotel in Washington, D.C. The tumble resulted in fractures to his ribs as well.
The incident, which occurred during a dinner for the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), landed him in the hospital. “Leader McConnell tripped at a dinner event Wednesday evening and has been admitted to the hospital and is being treated for a concussion. He is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days of observation and treatment,” said his communications director said in a statement at the time.
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“The Leader is grateful to the medical professionals for their care and to his colleagues for their warm wishes.”
He was discharged from the hospital on March 13, 2023, several days afterward.
Later that month, McConnell was also discharged from inpatient physical therapy.
The then-GOP Senate leader also made news in July of 2023 when he appeared to freeze up during a routine press conference.
“Good afternoon, everyone. We’re on a path to finishing the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) this week, there’s been good bipartisan cooperation and a string of…” McConnell started to say, before trailing off and staring blankly for almost a minute. His leadership colleagues then intervened.
“You OK, Mitch?” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wy., asked at the time. “Is there anything else you want to say or should we just go back to your office?”
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These events created questions of whether McConnell would continue to be leader and also whether he should. He answered this himself in February of last year, announcing his intent not to seek re-election as Republican leader in the next Congress.
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“One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter,” he said in floor remarks. “So I stand before you today… to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”
He was succeeded by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who won a secret ballot conference election in November.
McConnell was the longest serving party leader in the history of the Senate, holding onto the position for 17 years.
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