{"id":2603227,"date":"2026-05-15T14:37:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-tom-keans-monthslong-medical-absence-sparks-growing-scrutiny\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T14:38:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:38:01","slug":"rep-tom-keans-monthslong-medical-absence-sparks-growing-scrutiny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-tom-keans-monthslong-medical-absence-sparks-growing-scrutiny\/","title":{"rendered":"Rep. Tom Kean&#8217;s monthslong medical absence sparks growing scrutiny"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frep-tom-keans-monthslong-medical-absence-sparks-growing-scrutiny%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2603227&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Scrutiny has intensified over Rep. Thomas Kean jr.\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wendy-williams-reacts-to-sherri-shepherd-replacing-her-following-announcement-that-her-talk-show-is-officially-canceled\/\" title=\"Wendy Williams Reacts To Sherri Shepherd Replacing Her Following Announcement That Her Talk Show Is Officially Canceled\">extended absence<\/a> from Capitol Hill. His father said Kean is under a doctor\u2019s care and recovering from a serious but temporary illness, declining to provide further health details and saying he should return soon. Kean\u2019s chief of staff added that there are \u201cno cameras where Tom is,\u201d while Kean\u2019s office did not respond to questions.<\/p>\n<p>Kean has not voted since March 5 due to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/putin-to-undergo-cancer-surgery-temporarily-hand-over-power-to-former-federal-police-chief\/\" title=\"Putin to Undergo Cancer Surgery, Temporarily Hand Over Power to Former Federal Police Chief\">undisclosed medical problem<\/a>, 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 \u201csounded great,\u201d and that no additional details were available.<\/p>\n<p>Kean is campaigning for his third term in New Jersey\u2019s 7th District, a key seat for Republicans\u2019 effort to maintain their House majority. When asked about his ability to run,Johnson said he can.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Scrutiny over Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-kean-jr\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11036\">Thomas Kean Jr.\u2019s<\/a> (R-NJ) monthslong absence on Capitol Hill has hit a fever pitch, with his office providing few details as to the congressman\u2019s whereabouts.<\/p>\n<p>Kean\u2019s father, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/05\/15\/politics\/tom-kean-jr-absence-congress-under-doctors-care?source=sub_web_wall-met\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/05\/15\/politics\/tom-kean-jr-absence-congress-under-doctors-care?source=sub_web_wall-met\">told CNN<\/a> that his son is \u201cunder the care of a doctor,\u201d and that his son is recovering from a serious, but temporary illness. Kean Sr. declined to provide details about his son\u2019s health but told the outlet he should be back soon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s hopefully coming back soon and he\u2019s under the care of a doctor,\u201d Kean Sr. told CNN. \u201cThey all agree he\u2019s going to be fine. He\u2019s under a doctor\u2019s care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/14\/nyregion\/tom-kean-congress-missing.html\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/14\/nyregion\/tom-kean-congress-missing.html\">the <em>New York Times <\/em>reported<\/a> that Kean\u2019s chief of staff, Dan Scharfenberger, said there are \u201cno cameras where Tom is.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4570127\/jordan-justifies-gas-prices-rising-under-trump-despite-campaign-promise-thats-life\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Jim Jordan justifies rising gas prices despite Trump\u2019s campaign promise: \u2018That\u2019s life\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4569775\/frederica-wilson-surgery-house-absence\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Florida Democrat cites surgery recovery for weekslong House absence<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4569602\/ethics-sexual-harassment-chuck-edwards\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ethics panel reviewing sexual harassment allegations against Rep. Chuck Edwards<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s dealing with a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >personal health condition<\/a>, and he\u2019ll be back soon,\u201d Scharfenberger told the outlet.<\/p>\n<p>Kean\u2019s office has not responded to questions from the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> over the Republican\u2019s absence.<em><br \/><\/em><br \/>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 \u201creturn to a full schedule and be at 100 percent\u201d soon. <\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters that Kean \u201chas a medical issue\u201d but that he did not know anything more regarding his absence.<\/p>\n<p>The speaker said he spoke with Kean on the phone \u201cabout two weeks ago,\u201d and that he \u201csounded great\u201d during the short conversation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s the full extent of what I know about it,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cAnd you know it\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jim-jordan-slams-dr-fauci-15-days-to-slow-the-spread-turned-into-one-year-of-lost-liberty\/\" title=\"Jim Jordan Slams Dr. Fauci: ...15 Days To Slow The Spread Turned Into One Year Of Lost Liberty...\">personal thing<\/a>, and obviously I told him that we\u2019re praying for him and we need him to get back as soon as he can.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The New Jersey Republican is running for his third term in New Jersey\u2019s 7th Congressional District, a purple swing district that will be crucial to Republicans\u2019 effort to hold their House majority in November.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4538440\/by-the-numbers-how-many-seats-has-each-party-gained\/\">BY THE NUMBERS: HOW MANY SEATS HAS EACH PARTY GAINED IN REDISTRICTING?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When asked if Kean will be able to run for reelection, Johnson said, \u201cOf course he can.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, like everyone, sometimes things happen that are out of our control,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWe have medical issues. We gotta deal with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scrutiny mounts over Rep. Thomas Kean Jr.\u2019s long Capitol Hill absence, with little info-his doctor-care recovery is cited<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2603228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Thomas-Kean-Jr.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4606,79751,5894,32985,43525],"class_list":["post-2603227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-healthcare","tag-medical-leave","tag-politics","tag-public-scrutiny","tag-state-legislature"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Thomas-Kean-Jr.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2603227"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2603231,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603227\/revisions\/2603231"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2603228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2603227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2603227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2603227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}