Republican Tom Kean Jr. said he was treated for depression during absence from Congress
Kean said he was hospitalized and diagnosed with depression, missing more than 140 House votes as Republicans faced a narrow majority.
- On Tuesday, New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean revealed he spent months away from Congress being treated for depression, stating, "Today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love."
- During his months away, Kean missed more than 100 votes this year while absent from Washington; his office noted in April he was dealing with a personal medical issue, though he had not been seen publicly since March 5.
- Kean, who comes from a family with 250 years of public service, remains a candidate for reelection and faces Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, in New Jersey's high-profile November contest.
- Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders repeatedly told reporters they were in touch with Kean, though his absence complicated matters for House Republican leaders struggling to pass bills with their razor-thin 218-212 majority.
- Democrats have targeted the seat as a prime opportunity, noting the district has changed hands in the last two midterm elections while Kean represents a battleground area including President Donald Trump's Bedminster golf club.
127 Articles
127 Articles
'I accepted help': Republican who missed 140 votes in Congress finally clears up mystery
The New Jersey congressman who missed more than 140 votes has finally revealed the mystery "medical issue" that kept him from his congressional duties.Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (N.J.) last voted in Congress on March 5 and then went missing for three months without a full explanation of his absence.'There is no timeline for recovery, only the work of getting better one day at a time.'On Tuesday, Kean said in a speech on the floor of Congress t…
'It's Difficult to Understand How Powerful Depression Can Be': Tom Kean Jr on His Four-Month Absence From the House of Representatives
New Jersey Republican congressman Tom Kean Jr has ended months of speculation over his sudden disappearance from Capitol Hill, revealing he was hospitalised for depression. The 57-year-old had been absent from the House of Representatives for 142 days, missing more than 140 votes during that stretch. Kean addressed colleagues on the House floor on his return this week, offering his first detailed explanation for the gap. His district is widely r…
Tom Kean Jr. Returns to Congress After Mysterious Absence, Reveals Mental Health Battle
Republican Tom Kean Jr. has returned to congress following his mysterious absence, revealing the reason for his prolonged leave. “I’m grateful that I accepted help,” the New Jersey congressman, 57, said in a speech on the House floor during his return on Tuesday, June 30, revealing he was undergoing treatment for his mental health while away. “Asking for help is not a weakness. It is a strength.” Kean explained that he initially went to t…
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