New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. disclosed Tuesday that he was being treated for depression during his unexplained four-month absence from the House. Kean, who represents a battleground district that includes President Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club, suggested in a brief floor speech that he remained silent about his condition until now because he is a ‘private person by nature.’
Return to Congress
Kean’s reappearance came weeks after his victory in an uncontested primary on June 2 and months after he last cast his vote in the House. His speech ended the silence on his condition, yet left questions unanswered. Kean said he first entered the hospital due to health concerns and underwent testing, but offered no further details.
After the speech, Kean left the Capitol quickly without answering questions from reporters. Kean last voted in the House on March 5. His absence had complicated matters for House Republican leaders, who have been struggling to pass bills with their threadbare majority.
Depression Diagnosis
Kean said he was diagnosed with depression and that doctors recommended he remain in the hospital. Addressing his earlier statement that he expected to return to work in a matter of weeks, Kean said he believed that at the time and it was his doctors’ best estimate then. ‘But as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover there is no timeline for healing,’ Kean said.
‘Today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love,’ Kean added. A second-term lawmaker and scion of a New Jersey political family, Kean represents a district that has changed hands in the last two midterm elections. Kean won in 2022 by defeating Democrat Tom Malinowski, who had defeated Republican Leonard Lance in 2018.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he would leave it to Kean to decide whether his remarks Tuesday provided sufficient transparency. ‘He spoke to it,’ Johnson said. ‘It’s his personal issue, and, you know, I thought the speech on the floor was, well, I thought he explained it.’ Johnson said he had ‘encouraged him all along to be as transparent as possible’ and was ‘glad he finally has’ been.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
