Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., whose whereabouts haven't been disclosed since he quietly took a medical leave from Congress several weeks ago, is being treated for depression at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, according to a statement released by the hospital late Friday.
Jackson is undergoing an extensive inpatient evaluation for depression and for gastrointestinal issues, the hospital said, providing the first details about his medical condition. But the statement didn't disclose where the longtime Chicago congressman, the son of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, had previously been staying.
"Further information will be released as Congressman Jackson's evaluation proceeds," the statement said, adding that he and his family were "grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers that have been received throughout his care."
Phone messages left by The Associated Press for his spokesman weren't returned Friday. In 2004, Jackson underwent a procedure to help him lose weight that involves removing part of the stomach and rearranging the intestine.
