Former Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl diagnosed with dementia
(CNN, KYMA) - Former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) says he plans to step back from public life after being diagnosed with dementia.
His office made the announcement Tuesday.
Former Sen. Kyl, who is now 83, started his congressional career in 1987, when he won a seat in the House of Representatives.
He ended up winning a Senate seat in 1994 and eventually became a influential Republican leader of the era.
Kyl retired from the Senate in 2013. However, he returned to Congress briefly in 2018 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator John McCain.
In the announcement, Kyl said that he was grateful for his political career.
