Rep. Tom Kean discloses depression diagnosis upon return from months-long absence

Rep. Tom Kean discloses depression diagnosis upon return from months-long absence

Rep. Tom Kean (R-N.J.) on Tuesday said he missed nearly four months of House votes because of "a diagnosis of depression," ending speculation over an absence that became one of the longest by a sitting member of Congress.

Why it matters: Kean's disappearance from Congress left New Jersey's 7th District without a voting representative for more than 100 days.

  • "Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing. I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay. I was given the diagnosis of depression," Kean said on the House floor Tuesday morning.
  • Kean said his doctors recommended he remain in the hospital.

    • Tuesday's floor speech marked the New Jersey Republican's first detailed public explanation for his prolonged absence since he last voted on March 5.

  • "This is not an easy speech for me to give, I am a private person by nature...But I believe that I owe an explanation to the people of New Jersey's 7th district, to my colleagues in this chamber, and to the American people for my absence."

    • Driving the news: Kean said in a statement in April that he was dealing with a "personal medical issue," and was expected to "fully recover," but he and his staff have declined to offer details until now.

  • His office offered no timeline for his return until June 18, when it was announced he would return June 30.
  • He missed more than 100 consecutive House votes during his absence.
  • "When I said I hope to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it. Those were the best estimates that doctors could provide." Kean said Tuesday.

    • The big picture: Kean is not the first member of Congress to speak openly about their personal mental health battles.

  • In 2023, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) checked himself into Walter Reed Medical Center seeking treatment for clinical depression. Fetterman was absent from the Senate for almost three months while receiving treatment.
  • Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), both veterans of the war in Iraq, have been open about their struggles with PTSD.
  • Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) also disclosed her experience with depression in 2019.

    • "If sharing my story encourages even one person to seek help, if it gives one family the courage to have a difficult conversation, or reminds one person that recovery is possible, then this moment will have been worthwhile," Kean said Tuesday.

    Between the lines: Kean's absence was also consequential for House GOP leaders navigating a razor-thin House majority.

  • Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) can only afford to lose a handful of votes on party-line bills.
  • The speaker said earlier this month that he had spoken with Kean by phone, but many rank-and-file Republicans said they had little information about the reason for his prolonged absence.
  • Democrats and some New Jersey constituents also criticized the lack of transparency surrounding Kean's condition and expected return.

    • Editor's note: This story has been updated with details about other lawmakers' mental health struggles and additional comments from Kean.