House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the information released on Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s (D-Ill.) health condition should allow him the time he needs to recover.
"Our prayers and thoughts are with him and his family. We wish him the comfort he needs to get well. I said at the time that when ... they had a handle on what the evaluation was that they would make it known and they have," said Pelosi in a press conference Thursday, reported The Associated Press.
Jackson's office released a statement late Wednesday night stating that the Illinois congressman is receiving “intensive medical treatment” for a mood disorder, but further medical details were not included.
“The congressman is receiving intensive medical treatment at a residential treatment facility for a mood disorder. He is responding positively to treatment and is expected to make a full recovery,” his doctor said in a statement released by Jackson’s office.
The lawmaker has been on medical leave for more than a month, and calls for disclosure on his health had grown in recent days.
"I think that that statement should enable him to have the care and time he needs to get well ... because we just didn't know and now we do," Pelosi said.
Earlier this week
Pelosi split with House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) over whether Jackson should release additional information on his medical condition.
The minority leader argued that the timing should be dictated by nothing beyond “his healthcare needs," while Hoyer said Jackson's family would be "well-advised" to divulge as much information to his constituents as is appropriate.
—Mike Lillis contributed.
