Tom Kean Jr. (left) enters the Capitol in Washington to address his counterparts.Image: keystone
Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. was missing from the House of Representatives for 142 days. Now he says: He was treated in hospital for depression.
June 30, 2026, 8:36 p.mJune 30, 2026, 8:36 p.m
For months it was unclear why Tom Kean Jr. did not appear in the US House of Representatives. The Republican representative from New Jersey missed more than 140 votes during his absence. Officially, so far there has only been talk of a “personal medical problem”.
Now the 57-year-old has broken his silence. When he returned to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Kean said he had been treated in the hospital for depression.
“I was diagnosed with depression,” Kean told his colleagues. The illness is physical and emotional. Anyone who hasn’t experienced it themselves can hardly understand how powerful it can be.
“Depression is more than sadness”
Kean explained that he went to the hospital several months ago for examinations due to health problems. At first he didn’t expect it to be a longer stay. However, after the diagnosis, his doctors advised him to stay in the hospital. That was the quickest way to recovery.
Many people believe depression simply means being sad, Kean said. “But depression is so much more than that.”
During his absence, his staff had only stated that Kean was receiving medical treatment. According to US media, some of them did not know why the MP was missing.
Politically sensitive time
Kean’s return comes at a politically sensitive time. The Republican is running for a third term in the November midterm elections. His constituency in New Jersey is considered competitive and could be crucial for the majority in Congress.
Pressure had been growing within the Republican Party for Kean to explain his absence. At the beginning of June he won the Republican primary without any opposition. Still, Democrats are preparing to attack his seat.
A loss of the constituency would be a significant setback for the Republicans. The midterm elections will decide which party will have the say in Congress in the future – and how much political leeway Donald Trump will have in the second half of his term in office. (mke)