{"id":2622421,"date":"2026-07-01T19:17:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T23:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congressman-gets-mixed-response-after-explaining-why-he-disappeared-for-four-months\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T19:17:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T23:17:57","slug":"congressman-gets-mixed-response-after-explaining-why-he-disappeared-for-four-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congressman-gets-mixed-response-after-explaining-why-he-disappeared-for-four-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressman Gets Mixed Response After Explaining Why He Disappeared for Four Months"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/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%2Fcongressman-gets-mixed-response-after-explaining-why-he-disappeared-for-four-months%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=2622421&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>Lawmakers from both political parties responded with mixed feelings after GOP Representative tom kean Jr. of New Jersey revealed that his recent four-month absence from Congress was due to treatment for depression. Kean, who has announced he is running for a third term, explained that he was diagnosed with depression, emphasizing the powerful physical and emotional impact of the illness. He shared that he initially believed he could push through his responsibilities but eventually recognized the importance of following medical advice and understanding the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/study-suggests-pregnant-women-vaccinated-for-covid-19-may-pass-on-antibodies-to-infants\/\" title=\"Study Suggests Pregnant Women Vaccinated For COVID-19 May Pass On Antibodies To Infants\">long-term effects<\/a> of depression.<\/p>\n<p>Kean&#8217;s openness prompted discussions about privacy, transparency, and support for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/9-year-old-girl-pepper-sprayed-during-interaction-with-rochester-police\/\" title=\"9-Year-Old Girl Pepper Sprayed During Interaction With Rochester Police\">mental health issues<\/a> among elected officials. Some lawmakers, like Democrat Maxine Dexter, supported the need for transparency, while others, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, suggested he should have shared more details sooner. Progressive representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >encouraging mental health openness<\/a> and questioned whether public health information of officials should be more accessible. Similar conversations arose when Senator John Fetterman publicly discussed his own depression treatment. the incident sparked a broader debate about mental health awareness, privacy rights, and the responsibilities of public officials to thier constituents.  <\/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\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle d mixed responses Tuesday after a Republican congressman said his recent four-month absence was due to treatment for depression.<\/p>\n<p>GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey returned to work and addressed the House floor following months of missed votes without explanation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was given the diagnosis of depression,\u201d Kean said, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c-span.org\/program\/us-house-of-representatives\/rep-tom-kean-speaks-on-absence-from-congress\/682019\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to<\/a> C-SPAN. \u201cIt is physical, it is emotional, and until you\u2019ve experienced it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kean, 57, is <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Thomas_Kean_Jr.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">running for a third term<\/a> in a district that just spent months without representation.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WATCH: Rep. Tom Kean Jr. says he was recovering from depression in full House speech\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CxBaBoet6X8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>He added:<\/p>\n<p><em>I had responsibilities to my family. I had responsibilities to my constituents. I had responsibilities to this institution. And like many people, I believed that I could simply push through. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>But I agreed to follow my doctor\u2019s recommendations \u2014 again, not believing that it would result in a long-term stay. I began to understand not only my diagnosis, but how long depression had been affecting my life.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>When I first informed the public that I was dealing with a medical issue, I was still trying to understand what was happening myself. When I said I hoped to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it. Those were the best estimates the doctors could provide. 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.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Lawmakers from both parties weighed in on his explanation in comments to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/07\/01\/tom-kean-depression-transparency-privacy-00983228\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Politico<\/a> that were published on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCertainly everyone has a right to privacy and to health care and to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">mental health care<\/a> that they need,\u201d said Rep. Maxine Dexter, an Oregon Democrat.<\/p>\n<p>She added that members are obligated to be \u201ctransparent and forthcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dexter added, \u201cYou give up the right to privacy in a certain respect when you run for office and represent that many people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the timing of Kean\u2019s disclosure at a news conference on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>While he was empathetic, he said more details should have been released sooner.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf it were me, I would have been more specific about that, and I encouraged him to be,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democratic socialist, told Politico she wanted Kean and others to feel encouraged to  when they are struggling with mental health issues.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think many of us have a tremendous degree of empathy and understanding for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/science-white-libs-more-likely-to-have-mental-health-problems\/\" title=\"SCIENCE: White Libs More Likely To Have Mental ... Problems\">mental health diagnosis<\/a>,\u201d Ocasio-Cortez said.<\/p>\n<p>The New York Democrat also questioned whether the health of elected officials should be more public.<\/p>\n<p>She added, \u201cThere\u2019s a valid discussion here about when it comes to the volume of an absence, what is our responsibility to our constituents in communicating around that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Similar discussions were sparked when Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/john-fettermans-staff-releases-new-statement-health-no-update-wife-fled-country\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">was hospitalized<\/a> for depression at Walter Reed three years ago.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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