Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) on Monday joined the chorus of Republicans casting doubt on Hillary Clinton’s pneumonia diagnosis, speculating in an interview on WBAL that there was “something else” going on.
“I have long felt that Secretary Clinton has got some health issues,” Perry said in comments first flagged by BuzzFeed News. “I don’t know what they are. If she does have pneumonia, I think it has to do with something else. It’s not necessarily the only issue that she might have and might be being caused by whatever else is plaguing her.”
The Clinton campaign disclosed her diagnosis on Sunday after the Democratic nominee departed early from a 9/11 memorial event in Manhattan, appearing weak and unable to support herself. Some conservatives have seized on the announcement, which came two days after Clinton said she was diagnosed by her doctor, as evidence that she was secretly concealing other health issues. Clinton’s spokesperson Brian Fallon said there was “no other undisclosed condition” except pneumonia and seasonal allergies.
Still, Perry argued that other people don’t think Clinton even has pneumonia at all.
“What are people to think? It’s our natural tendency when she says something, ‘Oh she’s got pneumonia.’ Well, maybe she does, but, of course, the next question is what’s causing the pneumonia? Is it related to something else?,” Perry said.
“Quite honestly, I think there are people that don’t even believe she has pneumonia,” he continued. “I mean, we watched in the video of her legs buckle, or at least one of her legs buckled going into the vehicle. I mean, listen, members of my family have had pneumonia. I’ve seen it. I’ve been around it. I don’t ever remember seeing that.”
Donald Trump has mostly refrained from commenting on the diagnosis, though he used characteristically vague language to say “something is going on” with Clinton’s health. Republican Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said he doesn’t know “what to believe.”
Other GOPers have made firmer accusations. The co-chair of Veterans for Trump, Republican New Hampshire state representative Daniel Tamburello, posited that she has “pneumonia caused by Parkinson’s disease.” Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) said that he had “serious doubts as to whether or not it’s pneumonia.”
