I can't get over this story.
Tom Kean is a 57-year-old Republican congressman from New Jersey. He last voted on Capitol Hill on March 5...and hasn't been seen in public since.
This statement below, from April 27, is the first time he publicly commented on his absence, saying he's been addressing "a personal medical issue."
Kean is apparently still running for reelection in his competitive U.S. House district and no other Republican is challenging him in the primary.
In a report published May 14, the
@nytimes spoke with Rep. Kean's chief of staff who mysteriously said, "There’s no cameras where Tom is.”
The piece also states, "The Morris County Chamber of Commerce has amended the program for a May 28 breakfast meeting focused on Washington policies, saying that Mr. Kean will no longer be speaking at the event."
nytimes.com/2026/05/14/nyreg…
In a report published May 15,
@njdotcom spoke with Kean's father, Tom Kean Sr., who is a former governor of New Jersey:
"Kean Sr. told
NJ.com the undisclosed illness sidelining his son, a two-term Republican New Jersey congressman, is 'serious' but temporary, that he’s under the care of a doctor away from home, and he’s expected to fully recover.
The ex-governor did not reveal the ailment but said Kean Jr., 57, could be 'out' in two to three weeks. He added it’s unclear when his son will be ready to head back to Congress. He also said he still believes the lawmaker plans to run for re-election this year."
nj.com/politics/2026/05/nj-r…
In a report also published May 15,
@CNN got this insight from Kean's father:
"'It took a real illness to knock him out,' Kean Sr. added. 'This won’t linger. It’s not some kind of disease that’s going to incapacitate him in the future. The consensus is that he will be 100% OK.'
Kean Sr. declined to specify the illness and said disclosure decisions are 'up to him,' referring to his son."
cnn.com/2026/05/15/politics/…
So, in sum, a middle-aged member of Congress has not voted or been seen in public for 75 days and his staff or family will not disclose to his constituents what exactly is going on.