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Political notebook: U.S. Sen. Hagerty on Minority Leader McConnell continuing after freezing twice: ‘I see no reasons for these concerns’

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / From left, U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty; Vicky Gregg, EPB chair; and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly listen as EPB President and CEO David Wade speaks during an event in June. Hagerty last week questioned the media's motives in its reporting about Sen. Mitch McConnell's health.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / From left, U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty; Vicky Gregg, EPB chair; and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly listen as EPB President and CEO David Wade speaks during an event in June. Hagerty last week questioned the media's motives in its reporting about Sen. Mitch McConnell's health. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / From left, U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty; Vicky Gregg, EPB chair; and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly listen as EPB President and CEO David Wade speaks during an event in June. Hagerty last week questioned the media's motives in its reporting about Sen. Mitch McConnell's health.

By Andy Sher 5 min read

NASHVILLE — During an appearance last week on Fox Business, U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tennessee, was asked if Senate Minority Lee Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, “has what it takes” to move the party forward given two recent episodes in which the 81-year-old froze for several minutes while talking to reporters in Washington and Kentucky.

An examination showed “no evidence” of a stroke or seizure disorder, the Senate’s attending physician said.

“I’m going to finish my term as leader, and I’m going to finish my Senate term,” McConnell told reporters in Washington. His Senate term runs through January 2027.

“Well, the office of the attending physician put out the results, so I think a pretty thorough evaluation (was done) by a number of experts,” Hagerty said. “And he’s got a clean bill of health. I spoke with him yesterday. He seems to be just fine. I see no reasons for these concerns.

“It’s amazing though how many times I’ve been asked about Leader McConnell, but when President Biden, you know, has a trip or a stumble like this, the media seems not to care,” Hagerty continued. “So again, I think what we’re seeing is a two-tiered interest in sort of destabilizing the Republican Party, while they look the other way when it comes to President Joe Biden.”