Posted on 06/30/2026 10:42:16 AM PDT by DFG
Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., delivered an emotional speech Tuesday revealing for the first time the medical condition that kept him away from the House and campaign stops for nearly four months.
Kean said he was given a diagnosis of depression after entering the hospital for "some testing." He said the illness took him months to heal from and left him under doctors' care during a prolonged stay in the hospital.
"I'm grateful that I accepted help, because today I stand before you stronger, healthier and excited to return to the work that I love," Kean said on the House floor.
Tuesday's speech came after Kean, 57, returned to Washington this week after being absent since early March. A spokesperson for the New Jersey Republican said earlier this month that Kean would return for the June 30 session.
During his recovery, he missed 140 roll call votes, amounting to a 100% absence rate, according to the website GovTrack.
Throughout his absence, Kean's office suggested he would return to work shortly but pushed back the timeline on several occasions. In his speech, Kean said the reason was that he didn't understand how long it would take him to fully recover.
"When I said I hoped to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it," Kean said. "Those were the best estimates that 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."
The two-term lawmaker kept the nature of his condition private while recovering, but promised transparency upon his return. His silence appeared to extend to House Republican leadership, who said they were in the dark about Kean’s ailment when questioned by reporters on several occasions.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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As a congress critter I would think depressed everytime he looks in a mirror.
Real issues with him. I’m sorry that he went through his depression. However, to just leave his post without explanation for months is just unforgivable if he would’ve requested to leave through the leadership then it would’ve been 100% satisfactory. apparently, the speaker of the house had no idea.
HE SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED WITH DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY...
STEP DOWN
You don’t heal, you barely cope, you only endure. If he doesn’t know this by now he needs another doctor or treatment. Doped up is no way to live.
“ As a congress critter I would think depressed everytime he looks in a mirror.”
Really. Especially being a Republican in New Jersey. Just look at Chris Christie. He tried to treat his depression by eating far too much.
The poor boy was depressed. Well if that’s his problem he should resign and take care of his health.
If internal feelings makes a person of responsibility check out from their position of power for 4 months, then it is risky to allow them back unless they are some irreplaceable history making person, a one in a million world conqueror type, your local congressman checking out, isn’t that.
He should’ve done the SELFLESS thing … and, resigned.
Hopefully, his constituents will do that for him.
he did give an explanation. He said he was sick. It just wasn't as detailed as you wanted it to be.
a diagnosis of depression?
quit living in the past
Nor should DEImonratz They all suffer mental illness
Sounds like my body’s response after 2nd covid shot.
I was totally useless for 2 months.
Never got another one of course.
Kean said he was given a diagnosis of depression after entering the hospital for “some testing.” Take more medication.
Pretty solid clue that we are dealing here with a RINO
Yeah Kean is a RINO, but those who are smugly piling on Kean here can rejoice — he very likely will be voted out of office in a little over 4 months.
And be replaced by a 100% liberal Democrat.
Congrats.
I would be nearly certain that this “depression” included a substance abuse component that required an extended stay for treatment at a facility.
That seat is lost now.
Correction—a Communist
Too bad for the half of the American people who see the country being trashed by the Supreme Court, the weakling GOP in Congress, the filibuster, the steady march of socialist/communist candidates all over the country, indoctrination of students from pre-school to post graduate education and the 99% negative stories on the news media against Trump. Depressing.
A whole lot of depression going on.
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