WASHINGTON ― Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) fell twice on Wednesday ― once leaving the Senate chamber and again inside a closed-door Republican conference lunch just minutes later.
The 82-year-old former Senate GOP leader, a childhood polio survivor, is using a wheelchair as a precautionary measure after the pair of spills at the U.S. Capitol.
“Senator McConnell is fine. The lingering effects of polio in his left leg will not disrupt his regular schedule of work,” a McConnell spokesperson said in a statement to HuffPost.
The Kentucky Republican, who will turn 83 later this month, has had a history of health issues. He decided not to run again for party leader after suffering two public freezes at weekly press conferences in 2023.
McConnell suffered a sprained wrist after falling following a weekly lunch gathering with his colleagues last year. He also had a concussion and broken ribs after another fall at a fundraising dinner in 2023.
Witnesses told HuffPost McConnell fell as he was exiting the Senate chamber and walking down a pair of steps on Wednesday. He got up with the help of his security and staff and walked into a nearby room where Republicans hold their weekly lunch.
McConnell then fell again while inside the room, according to PunchBowl News’ John Bresnahan.
The Kentucky senator is viewed as a possible vote against several of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be health secretary and Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence.