A Republican lawmaker who has been absent from Congress for more than a month has finally spoken out about his lengthy disappearance. New Jersey Representative Tom Kean Jr., 57, had missed over 50 roll call votes since March 17 without providing any explanation to his constituents, colleagues, or the American public.
Other New Jersey Republicans reported that their attempts to contact him had been met with "radio silence," while his staff only indicated he was dealing with unspecified health problems. However, on Monday, Kean—who faces a tough reelection bid in November—posted a personal message on social media thanking people for their "patience" as he addresses a "personal medical issue."
"My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete, and that I will be back to the job I love very soon. I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent," Kean said on X. "I take my responsibilities seriously and have a strong record of showing up and delivering, which makes this absence all the more difficult... I also want to thank my friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their patience and understanding during this time."
Despite the statement, Kean offered little concrete information beyond what his staff had already disclosed weeks earlier. He provided no further details about his health condition or a specific timeline for his return.
Kean's district is expected to be the most competitive congressional race in New Jersey in this year's midterm elections. It covers a large area of the state's affluent northwest, including the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. He is running for reelection amid the Trump administration's plans to open an immigration detention facility in the district, which has sparked public protests.
Republican leaders in the House had not addressed Kean's absence until last week, when Speaker Mike Johnson said they had spoken by phone. Kean wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on April 7 regarding the detention facility plans, asking the department to "take a deeper look and give careful consideration to the concerns raised by local officials." Both Democrats and Republicans struggled to get a response from Kean. One Nebraska GOP representative said he did not even realize Kean had been gone so long until he tried and failed to find him on the House floor last week.
"It’s been a long absence," New Jersey Democrat Rob Menendez told Politico. "I hope he’s doing all right. But I haven’t heard anything."
Despite his absence, Kean continued to buy and sell shares on the stock market, according to a report by the D.C. news site NOTUS. A spokesperson said his personal investments were in a "blind structure," but provided no further details.
