Mysteriously Missing NJ Rep. Tom Kean Jr. To Return To Congress After Nearly Four-Month Absence
New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is set to make his long-awaited return to Congress on June 30 after being absent from Capitol Hill for nearly four months due to an undisclosed health issue.
“Congressman Kean is eager to return to in-person work on June 30 and resume a full schedule,” his political adviser, Harrison Neely, said.
The House is currently scheduled to begin its Independence Day recess on July 2, meaning Kean’s return will come just days before lawmakers leave Washington for the holiday break.
Kean, who represents New Jersey’s competitive 7th Congressional District, has missed more than 135 roll call votes since March 5, the last day he cast a vote in the House of Representatives. His office has repeatedly said only that he was dealing with a “personal health matter” and focused on his recovery.
The exact nature of the health issue remains unknown nearly four months after his departure from Capitol Hill. The lack of details has fueled questions about his prolonged absence, particularly given the importance of his seat and the closely watched race for reelection.
Kean did not make an appearance when he secured the Republican nomination for reelection and is expected to face Democrat Rebecca Bennett in what is anticipated to be a highly competitive general election contest.
Some of Kean’s congressional colleagues reportedly did not know the specifics of his condition during his absence. However, he has since spoken with key Republicans and gave a brief interview to the New Jersey Globe in May.
“My doctors are confident that I’m on the road to a full recovery,” Kean, 57, said at the time. “I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents.”
He also insisted that the health issue has not affected his cognitive abilities and is not a chronic condition, adding that he expected to return to voting and campaign activities within a matter of weeks.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has publicly defended Kean’s privacy during the ordeal. Johnson acknowledged that he knows the nature of the congressman’s condition but said he would not disclose it without Kean’s permission.
“He’s in good spirits,” Johnson told reporters earlier this month. “It’s not a scandalous thing at all. People deal with health issues. Maybe that’s a newsflash for you, but even members of Congress get sick as well.”
Kean’s return on June 30 will end one of the most unusual and mysterious absences in Congress this year, though questions remain about the health issue that kept the New Jersey lawmaker away from Washington for nearly four months.