Politics

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s health called into question after visible bruising/bandages

by on

More in Politics:

PHOTO CREDITS: TOM WILLIAMS/GETTY

The health of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was called into question after visible bruises and bandages on his hands and face were seen during public appearances last Thursday.

The 78-year-old Kentucky senator said there were “no concerns” in response to reporters asking about the injuries. The senator did not respond to queries on whether he was being treated by a doctor. An aide to McConnell also declined to yield additional details on the majority leader’s health (CNN). 

McConnell, who is up for reelection, told reporters, “Of course not,” when asked if he had any issues people should know about. An acute observation was provided by Twitter user @/Amy_Siskind, who said, “Whatever happened to McConnell, happened recently. In photos on October 15, his hands look normal. On October 20, he hid his hands in his pockets for most photos, and the photos that show his hands show bandages on both and deep bruising of some kind.”

Senator McConnell has had health issues in the past, which may have some relation to his current bruising. McConnell survived polio as a child, fractured his shoulder in a fall in 2019, and underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 2003 (upolitics). According to the NHS, Post-Polio Syndrome is where some symptoms of polio return or get worse many years or decades after the original polio infection. These symptoms include extreme tiredness, muscle weakness, shrinking muscles, muscle and joint pain, and sleep apnea. Many of these symptoms may explain how Senator McConnell came to have bruises on his face and hands, as well as how he fractured his shoulder in a fall in 2019. 

It has yet to be confirmed whether Senator McConnell is facing any adverse health condition. Despite the apparent bruising, Senator McConnell continued his professional obligations throughout the week (CNN). This included delivering speeches on the Senate floor, as well as speaking in favor of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court on Thursday (Yahoo News). 

McConnell was unanimously appointed as the Senate majority leader by Republicans after the 2014 election. Senator McConnell’s current term is up on Jan. 3, 2021.

ARTICLE: EVAN STOGSDILL

POLITICS EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

Leave a Reply