Since Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) basically vanished from Congress in March, there has been considerable speculation about what’s kept him from his duties. Kean’s camp has said that he’s been away due to an unspecified medical condition, but that’s only seemed to fuel speculation.
Then, he reappeared this week. Kean answered the door of his Westfield, N.J., home on Wednesday for The New York Times, wearing a suit. He told the outlet that he would talk next week.
So, the air of mystery persists.
According to POLITICO, Kean is expected to return to Congress next Tuesday. It also cited an invitation for a reception in support of the Republican lawmaker on the same day.
“Few other details are known about the fundraiser; Kean’s spokespeople declined to comment, though they did not deny the event’s existence,” said the outlet. However, it did note that Kean has at least four other fundraisers planned over the coming months.
Kean, 57, previously worked for the Environmental Protection Agency under former President George W. Bush, per Ballotpedia. He was also a member of the New Jersey General Assembly before he beat a Democratic incumbent for his U.S. House seat in 2022. He’s up for reelection this November.
It’s been more than 100 days since Kean has cast a vote, POLITICO said. On March 20, his office said he was addressing a personal health matter. Curiosity has turned his absence into a national story.
His website and social media have featured press releases, including some about Kean recognizing student success. Bloomberg Government also wrote about Kean’s alleged stock trading while absent from his role in Congress, even though calling out inappropriate stock trading in others “was a centerpiece of Kean’s ascent,” to his current position, the outlet said.
In the days of Kean’s mysterious absence, former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett has risen as the Democrats’ nominee in the upcoming election and she’s already outraised Kean by $100,000. POLTICO said that Bennet has “largely steered clear of attacking Kean over his medical woes, but an allied outside group recently began an ad campaign excoriating his missed votes.”
Suzan DelBene, chair of the DCCC, has also criticized Kean: “The people in New Jersey haven’t had representation, and that is unacceptable,” she said, adding that Bennett is a strong candidate.
What will Kean have to say about the missing months? It looks like we’ll have to wait for next week to find out.
