Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) returned to the House of Representatives after a mysterious absence kept him away for months.

The New Jersey lawmaker explained the reason for his absence in a speech on the House floor.

“Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing. I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay,” Kean said.

“I was given the diagnosis of depression,” he added.

The Hill shared further:

Kean, who hasn’t voted since March 5, has represented New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District since 2023, a seat that is rated as a toss-up by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

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He had written in an April statement that he was addressing a “personal medical issue” but has not elaborated on the reason for his absence until Tuesday.

The prolonged absence had fueled speculation about his health and the timing of his return. His chief of staff told The New York Times when pressed on his absence, “There’s no cameras where Tom is.”

Asked about Kean at a Wednesday morning press conference, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he “encouraged him to be transparent.“

“If it were me I would have been more specific about that. … It’s not an uncommon kind of condition and ailment that he’s been fighting, and I think people resonate with that. I think he’ll get a lot of empathy, because it’s something that’s very, very common,” he said.

Kean said he is a “private person by nature” and “talking about himself” has never come naturally.

“But I believe I owe an explanation to the people of New Jersey’s 7th District, to my colleagues in this chamber and to the American people for my actions,” he continued.

“It is physical, it is emotional and until you experience it yourself it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be,” Kean said regarding depression.

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More from the New York Post:

Despite his consternation, Kean said he stayed in the hospital at the recommendation of his doctors, a decision he came to be grateful for.

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Kean returned to his Westfield home Wednesday evening but declined to speak to a New York Times reporter who approached him, saying, “It’s good to see you. I’ll talk to you next week.”

The Republican’s top adviser, Harrison Neely, told the outlet in a subsequent text message that Kean would be “fully transparent” when he returned to work June 30.

Rumors swirled in Kean’s absence as his team wouldn’t comment on his disappearance beyond calling it a “personal health matter” and claiming the congressman was “focused on his recovery.”

 

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