McConnell defiant amid calls to step down following public freeze

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will not step down from his post as the party leader in the upper chamber of Congress and plans to serve his full term in leadership, his office has confirmed.

"Leader McConnell appreciates the continued support of his colleagues, and plans to serve his full term in the job they overwhelmingly elected him to do," his office confirmed following an episode in which he froze in the middle of a speech, prompting considerable speculation as to his health.

The Wednesday press conference saw the Kentucky lawmaker seemingly freeze for roughly 20 seconds. He has since stated that he is "fine."

The Kentucky lawmaker entered the Senate in 1985 and has led the Republicans since 2007. He faced no challenge to his leadership until Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott mounted an unsuccessful challenge last year.

McConnell's current term as a senator is set to expire in early 2027, though he must again face reelection as Senate Republican leader after the 2024 elections.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.