Sen. Rand Paul said he doesn’t understand why people are demanding Sen. Mitch McConnell to release more details about his health condition as he continues his recovery.

McConnell, 84, was discharged from a rehabilitation center Aug. 6 after being hospitalized June 14. McConnell said in an Aug. 6 statement he will continue physical therapy from home during the state work period and work with his staff on Senate business.

“I’m not sure I understand it,” Paul said of speculation on McConnell’s health, talking to reporters in Frankfort Tuesday afternoon. “To tell you the truth, he announced a year ago he wasn’t running. Everybody knows that he’s gotten older. He’s had some falls and had some things. And anyone who has a relative that’s gotten older, it happens to all of us. I don’t know why people are clamming for more details.”

The Senate is expected to return Sept. 14, though McConnell has not given a timeline on when he will return to the chamber.

Throughout McConnell’s hospitalization, his office has released few details about his health, leading to rampant online speculation. As Democrats and Republicans call for more transparency, a longtime ally of McConnell said Aug. 12 that McConnell is aware of and seems frustrated by the intense public scrutiny about his health condition.

Scott Jennings, a former McConnell adviser and conservative political commentator on CNN, said he spoke to McConnell last week about the attention he’s received since his hospitalization nearly two months ago.

“He told me today, he said, it was like, ‘I know this is unusual circumstances. I’m sitting here. The doctors tell me I don’t have any life-threatening issues. It must seem rather strange,’” Jennings said Aug. 12. “So yeah, I got the feeling he’s somewhat aware of it and frankly, somewhat frustrated by it.”

Paul said Tuesday he thinks McConnell will try to return to the Senate in September. He added that while the two sometimes have disagreements, he hopes McConnell can come back and enjoy a farewell as he finishes his final term as a U.S. senator.

Paul added that he doesn’t think being in public office means every aspect of your health should be made public.

“ I don’t think that’s anybody’s business, really ... He already said he had a fall. He’s given an explanation for that,” Paul said.

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