Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) revealed Tuesday that the undisclosed medical condition that kept him away from Congress for nearly four months was depression, ending months of speculation about one of the House GOP’s most closely watched absences.

Returning to the House floor for the first time since early March, Kean disclosed that he was hospitalized after experiencing health concerns and was ultimately diagnosed with depression, a condition he described as far more debilitating than many people realize.

“Many people think it is feeling sad. It is so much more than that,” Kean told colleagues. “It is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.”

The announcement comes after Kean missed more than 100 House votes and largely disappeared from public view, creating headaches for House Republican leadership as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attempted to navigate the chamber’s razor-thin majority.

Kean last cast a vote on March 5 before abruptly stepping away from Congress. His office initially described the situation only as a “personal medical issue,” repeatedly declining to elaborate while assuring constituents the congressman expected to make a full recovery.

Earlier this month, Kean’s political adviser, Harrison Neely, announced the congressman would return to Washington on June 30 and promised he would be “fully transparent” about his condition.

On Tuesday, Kean explained that he initially entered the hospital for medical testing before receiving his diagnosis. “I was given the diagnosis of depression,” he said. Kean said doctors advised him to remain hospitalized because it offered the quickest path to recovery. “I was hesitant,” he said. “I didn’t think I had time for it.”

The second-term Republican acknowledged that when he previously told constituents he expected to return within weeks, he believed that timeline was accurate. “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,” Kean said. “Today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love.” Kean characterized himself as “a private person by nature,” explaining why he chose not to disclose his diagnosis sooner.

He also encouraged others struggling with mental illness to seek treatment. “Asking for help is not a weakness,” he said. “It is a strength.” Despite revealing the reason for his prolonged absence, Kean left Capitol Hill immediately after delivering his remarks without answering reporters’ questions, leaving several unresolved what initially prompted his hospitalization.

Speaker Johnson said he had repeatedly encouraged Kean to be more forthcoming with the public during his absence. “I encouraged him all along to be as transparent as possible,” Johnson told reporters. “I’m glad he finally has.” Johnson declined to criticize Kean further, saying the decision ultimately rested with the New Jersey congressman. “It’s his personal issue,” the speaker said.

Kean represents New Jersey’s highly competitive 7th Congressional District, one of the Democrats’ top pickup opportunities heading into November. His absence became an issue in the race as Democrats questioned whether constituents were receiving adequate representation while Kean remained out of public view. Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, is expected to challenge Kean in what is projected to be one of the country’s most competitive House contests.

Before Tuesday’s announcement, President Donald Trump and House Republican leaders had continued backing Kean’s reelection campaign despite his absence. Trump endorsed Kean earlier this month, while Johnson repeatedly defended the congressman’s right to medical privacy and urged reporters to be patient.

Kean, the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., missed more than 100 House votes during his absence, though his office maintained that he continued to perform constituent services and campaign activities remotely.

The congressman’s remarks drew support from some lawmakers who have publicly discussed their own struggles with mental illness. At the same time, critics argued that while Kean’s diagnosis deserved empathy, his constituents also deserved greater transparency during an absence that stretched nearly four months.

New York Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres, who has spoken openly about living with depression, wrote on X that he had “deep sympathy for anyone struggling with mental illness,” but added that “public office carries a duty of transparency.”

“When a public official is absent for an extended period,” Torres wrote, “the public has a right to an honest explanation.”