Now, one of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s closest friends is publicly acknowledging those rumors and says there is one simple way to put many of them to rest.

CNN commentator and longtime McConnell ally Scott Jennings is urging the Kentucky senator’s office to provide a public update on his health, saying additional transparency would help end the growing speculation surrounding the 84-year-old Republican’s hospitalization.

McConnell has remained hospitalized since June 14, and his office has not disclosed why he was admitted or when he is expected to return to the Senate.

The limited information has led to widespread online speculation about his condition, including false rumors circulating on social media.

Jennings, who previously served as an adviser to McConnell, said earlier this week that he spoke with the senator by phone for nearly 20 minutes about current events.

On Friday, CNN clarified that Jennings’ account of the conversation reflected his personal experience and was not independent reporting by the network.

During Friday’s edition of The Source, host Kaitlan Collins asked Jennings whether McConnell was aware of the conspiracy theories circulating online.

“I don’t know how much of that he is personally aware of,” Jennings replied.

“He’s never concerned himself much with internet chatter or conspiracy theories or frankly, what people think of him all that much.”

Jennings then revealed that he has encouraged McConnell’s staff to provide more information to the public.

“But I have told the people in his office that I am in regular contact with that I think some of the narrative around this is being driven by people who, frankly, are posting untrue, unhinged conspiracy theories, and that’s some transparency here, would make a lot of it go away.”

He explained that he chose to publicly disclose his recent phone conversation because he believed many Americans had begun assuming the worst.

“To be honest with you, I was surprised when he called me, and one of the reasons I put out my tweet when I did my post, sorry, when I did, was that I just thought, hey, everybody sort of seems to think he’s either dead or not capable of chatting. And since I had talked to him, I thought that was valuable information.”

Jennings emphasized that he has no knowledge of McConnell’s medical condition or when the senator may return to work.

“Now, when he plans to go back to work, I have no idea. I don’t know anything about his medical records. I’m not his doctor. I’m not in his family, and I’m not in a position to make any pronouncements about that.”

“My advice has been a statement to the people of Kentucky on the day of or before the Senate goes back into session, would be highly appropriate.”

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump was also asked whether he had received any information about McConnell’s condition.

“I have no idea,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I have no idea how he’s doing.”

McConnell’s office has continued to say only that the senator is improving while receiving medical care and remains engaged in Senate business, but it has not released a diagnosis or announced when he may return to Capitol Hill, Mediaite reported.

As Congress prepares to reconvene, Jennings’ comments add to the growing bipartisan calls for greater transparency about the health of the longtime Kentucky senator, whose absence has now stretched for nearly a month.