WASHINGTON — New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr. broke his silence on his barely explained, weeks-long absence from Capitol Hill over mysterious “health issues,” vowing to return “very soon.”
The 57-year-old North Jersey Republican last cast a House vote on March 5 and has missed dozens of votes in the time since.
He thanked his colleagues 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,” he said in a statement days after controversy over his prolonged absence began.
“I also want to thank my friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their patience and understanding during this time. I appreciate your support and look forward to being back in the near future.”
Kean is running for reelection in one of the country’s most competitive districts. His fellow New Jersey GOPers have seemingly been kept in the dark until late last week about why he vanished from the Capitol.
His office had also declined to publicly disclose the health issue he faced.
Fears about his well-being grew last week as Congress has reckoned with multiple lawmakers falling ill or dying over the past year and a half — all while Republicans control the house with very small margins.
Since the current session of Congress began in January of last year, five reps have died, the most recent of whom was Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) last week.
Last month, President Trump let slip that Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) was expected to die from his terminal diagnosis in June.
All of that has resulted in complications for both parties, given the ultra-slim 217 to 212 Republican majority, which includes one independent caucusing with the GOP.
“I was happy to speak to Tom Kean, Jr. this afternoon by phone. He is attending to a personal health matter and expects to be back to 100% very soon,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said last Thursday.
“Tom is one of the most dedicated and hardest-working Members of Congress, and I am grateful for all he does and will continue to do to serve New Jerseyans and our country.”
Kean is a political scion in the Garden State, with his father having served as a popular governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990.
His grandfather served in the House, and his great-grandfather was a senator.
