Former Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona announced Tuesday that he would step back from public life after he was diagnosed with dementia.
"I was blessed to represent the people of Arizona in Congress and to have numerous other opportunities to contribute to the political and civic life of our nation and state," Kyl, a Republican, said in a statement. "However, the time has come for me to withdraw from public life. I have been diagnosed with a neurological disease manifesting as dementia."
Kyl, 83, served in Congress for almost 30 years, representing Arizona in both chambers. He served in the House from 1987 to 1995 and then in the Senate from 1995 until 2013. When he left Congress, he was Senate minority whip, the No. 2 Republican in the chamber.
He later became a lobbyist at the firm Covington and Burling. During that time, he helped guide the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh through the Senate.
Kyl briefly returned to Congress in 2018 after Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, appointed him to fill the seat left open by the death of Sen. John McCain. He stayed in the seat until 2019, when he returned to Covington and Burling.
"My family and I now head down a path filled with moments of joy and increasing difficulties," Kyl said in Tuesday's statement. "I am grateful beyond expression for their love and support, in these coming days as in all the days of my life. Despite this diagnosis, I remain a very fortunate man."
Kyl disclosed his diagnosis a week after former Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., announced he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
