MAGA lawmaker stammers when pressed on eye-catching Mitch McConnell claim

Rep. James Comer (R-KY) made headlines last Thursday after revealing that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) would be returning to Washington, D.C. after his months-long health-related absence, and when pressed for more details on Saturday, stammered through his response.

McConnell’s health has been the subject of intense speculation since his hospitalization in June, which his office was slow to provide details on. Weeks later, it was revealed that the Republican senator was reportedly found unconscious in his home and administered CPR, leading some to speculate his condition was far more severe than initially claimed.

The Senate is expected to return from recess later this month on Sept. 14, and Comer told reporters this week that he expected McConnell to be back in the Senate when the body reconvenes. Comer was pressed on his remarks Saturday during an appearance on Fox News, to which he clarified that he hadn’t actually spoken with the Kentucky senator “since he had his accident.”

“But I have spoken to staff — I actually spoke to his staff again today in anticipation of this question because I was asked this question at a press conference last week, and I said it, and it got a lot of press all over the United States,” Comer said. “They fully expect [McConnell] to be back in the Senate in September, that he's undergoing physical therapy.”

Comer was pressed again and asked if any “concern” remained that McConnell may not return to the Senate this month.

“I — I've been told by the staff they expect him to be back in the Senate in September, so I sure hope that's an accurate statement. That's what the — the staff told me,” Comer said.

“I've — I've worked very closely with them over the past nine-and-a-half years and they've never once lied to me, so I have confidence at that, and, uh... I — I'm — I'm hopeful the same because, uh, you know, he's, uh, he's... he's been a big presence in Kentucky for a long time.”