Rep. Tom Kean’s monthslong medical absence sparks growing scrutiny
Scrutiny has intensified over Rep. Thomas Kean jr.’s extended absence from Capitol Hill. His father said Kean is under a doctor’s care and recovering from a serious but temporary illness, declining to provide further health details and saying he should return soon. Kean’s chief of staff added that there are “no cameras where Tom is,” while Kean’s office did not respond to questions.
Kean has not voted since March 5 due to an undisclosed medical problem, though he previously said he expected to return to a full schedule. Since then, there have been no confirmed signs of his return, nor any photos or videos taken during his absence. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Kean has a medical issue, that he spoke with him by phone about two weeks ago and Kean “sounded great,” and that no additional details were available.
Kean is campaigning for his third term in New Jersey’s 7th District, a key seat for Republicans’ effort to maintain their House majority. When asked about his ability to run,Johnson said he can.
Scrutiny over Rep. Thomas Kean Jr.’s (R-NJ) monthslong absence on Capitol Hill has hit a fever pitch, with his office providing few details as to the congressman’s whereabouts.
Kean’s father, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., told CNN that his son is “under the care of a doctor,” and that his son is recovering from a serious, but temporary illness. Kean Sr. declined to provide details about his son’s health but told the outlet he should be back soon.
“He’s hopefully coming back soon and he’s under the care of a doctor,” Kean Sr. told CNN. “They all agree he’s going to be fine. He’s under a doctor’s care.”
On Thursday, the New York Times reported that Kean’s chief of staff, Dan Scharfenberger, said there are “no cameras where Tom is.”
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“He’s dealing with a personal health condition, and he’ll be back soon,” Scharfenberger told the outlet.
Kean’s office has not responded to questions from the Washington Examiner over the Republican’s absence.
Kean has not voted in the House since March 5 due to an undisclosed medical problem, but wrote in an April 27 statement that he planned to “return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent” soon.
But there has been no sign of Kean returning to Washington since then, and no photos or videos have been taken of the congressman during his absence.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters that Kean “has a medical issue” but that he did not know anything more regarding his absence.
The speaker said he spoke with Kean on the phone “about two weeks ago,” and that he “sounded great” during the short conversation.
“That’s the full extent of what I know about it,” Johnson said. “And you know it’s a personal thing, and obviously I told him that we’re praying for him and we need him to get back as soon as he can.”
The New Jersey Republican is running for his third term in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, a purple swing district that will be crucial to Republicans’ effort to hold their House majority in November.
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When asked if Kean will be able to run for reelection, Johnson said, “Of course he can.”
“So, like everyone, sometimes things happen that are out of our control,” Johnson said. “We have medical issues. We gotta deal with them.”
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