{"id":813,"date":"2026-07-01T05:10:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T05:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813"},"modified":"2026-07-01T05:10:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T05:10:04","slug":"congressman-gone-mia-reveals-he-missed-3-months-of-work-due-to-depression-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813","title":{"rendered":"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) revealed Tuesday that the undisclosed medical condition that kept him away from Congress for nearly four months was depression, ending months of speculation about one of the House GOP\u2019s most closely watched absences.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more JD Vance Lays Out Post-Trump Conservative Vision In Interview With Michael Knowles<\/a><\/p>\n

Returning to the House floor for the first time since early March, Kean disclosed that he was hospitalized after experiencing health concerns and was ultimately diagnosed with depression, a condition he described as far more debilitating than many people realize.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany people think it is feeling sad. It is so much more than that,\u201d Kean told colleagues. \u201cIt is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The announcement comes after Kean missed more than 100 House votes and largely disappeared from public view, creating headaches for House Republican leadership as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attempted to navigate the chamber\u2019s razor-thin majority.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kean last cast a vote on March 5 before abruptly stepping away from Congress. His office initially described the situation only as a \u201cpersonal medical issue,\u201d repeatedly declining to elaborate while assuring constituents the congressman expected to make a full recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Kean\u2019s political adviser, Harrison Neely, announced the congressman would return to Washington on June 30 and promised he would be \u201cfully transparent\u201d about his condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Kean explained that he initially entered the hospital for medical testing before receiving his diagnosis. <\/span>\u201cI was given the diagnosis of depression,\u201d he said. Kean said doctors advised him to remain hospitalized because it offered the quickest path to recovery. \u201cI was hesitant,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I had time for it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The second-term Republican acknowledged that when he previously told constituents he expected to return within weeks, he believed that timeline was accurate. <\/span>\u201cBut as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing,\u201d Kean said. \u201cToday I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love.\u201d Kean characterized himself as \u201ca private person by nature,\u201d explaining why he chose not to disclose his diagnosis sooner.<\/span><\/p>\n

He also encouraged others struggling with mental illness to seek treatment. \u201cAsking for help is not a weakness,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a strength.\u201d <\/span>Despite revealing the reason for his prolonged absence, Kean left Capitol Hill immediately after delivering his remarks without answering reporters\u2019 questions, leaving several unresolved what initially prompted his hospitalization.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Trump Reveals Host City For First Ever Midterm Convention In September<\/a><\/p>\n

Speaker Johnson said he had repeatedly encouraged Kean to be more forthcoming with the public during his absence. \u201cI encouraged him all along to be as transparent as possible,\u201d Johnson told reporters. \u201cI\u2019m glad he finally has.\u201d <\/span>Johnson declined to criticize Kean further, saying the decision ultimately rested with the New Jersey congressman. \u201cIt\u2019s his personal issue,\u201d the speaker said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kean represents New Jersey\u2019s highly competitive 7th Congressional District, one of the Democrats\u2019 top pickup opportunities heading into November. His absence became an issue in the race as Democrats questioned whether constituents were receiving adequate representation while Kean remained out of public view. <\/span>Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, is expected to challenge Kean in what is projected to be one of the country\u2019s most competitive House contests.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Tuesday\u2019s announcement, President Donald Trump and House Republican leaders had continued backing Kean\u2019s reelection campaign despite his absence. Trump endorsed Kean earlier this month, while Johnson repeatedly defended the congressman\u2019s right to medical privacy and urged reporters to be patient.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kean, the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., missed more than 100 House votes during his absence, though his office maintained that he continued to perform constituent services and campaign activities remotely.<\/span><\/p>\n

The congressman\u2019s remarks drew support from some lawmakers who have publicly discussed their own struggles with mental illness. At the same time, critics argued that while Kean\u2019s diagnosis deserved empathy, his constituents also deserved greater transparency during an absence that stretched nearly four months.<\/span><\/p>\n

New York Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres, who has spoken openly about living with depression, wrote on X that he had \u201cdeep sympathy for anyone struggling with mental illness,\u201d but added that \u201cpublic office carries a duty of transparency.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a public official is absent for an extended period,\u201d Torres wrote, \u201cthe public has a right to an honest explanation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) revealed Tuesday that the undisclosed medical condition that kept him away from Congress for nearly four months was depression, ending months of speculation about one of the House GOP\u2019s most closely watched absences.Returning to the House floor for the first time since early March, Kean disclosed that he was hospitalized after experiencing health concerns and was ultimately diagnosed with depression, a condition he described as far more debilitating than many people realize.\u201cMany people think it is feeling sad. It is so much more than that,\u201d Kean told colleagues. \u201cIt is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.\u201dThe announcement comes after Kean missed more than 100 House votes and largely disappeared from public view, creating headaches for House Republican leadership as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attempted to navigate the chamber\u2019s razor-thin majority.Kean last cast a vote on March 5 before abruptly stepping away from Congress. His office initially described the situation only as a \u201cpersonal medical issue,\u201d repeatedly declining to elaborate while assuring constituents the congressman expected to make a full recovery.Earlier this month, Kean\u2019s political adviser, Harrison Neely, announced the congressman would return to Washington on June 30 and promised he would be \u201cfully transparent\u201d about his condition.On Tuesday, Kean explained that he initially entered the hospital for medical testing before receiving his diagnosis. \u201cI was given the diagnosis of depression,\u201d he said. Kean said doctors advised him to remain hospitalized because it offered the quickest path to recovery. \u201cI was hesitant,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I had time for it.\u201dThe second-term Republican acknowledged that when he previously told constituents he expected to return within weeks, he believed that timeline was accurate. \u201cBut as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing,\u201d Kean said. \u201cToday I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love.\u201d Kean characterized himself as \u201ca private person by nature,\u201d explaining why he chose not to disclose his diagnosis sooner.He also encouraged others struggling with mental illness to seek treatment. \u201cAsking for help is not a weakness,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a strength.\u201d Despite revealing the reason for his prolonged absence, Kean left Capitol Hill immediately after delivering his remarks without answering reporters\u2019 questions, leaving several unresolved what initially prompted his hospitalization.Speaker Johnson said he had repeatedly encouraged Kean to be more forthcoming with the public during his absence. \u201cI encouraged him all along to be as transparent as possible,\u201d Johnson told reporters. \u201cI\u2019m glad he finally has.\u201d Johnson declined to criticize Kean further, saying the decision ultimately rested with the New Jersey congressman. \u201cIt\u2019s his personal issue,\u201d the speaker said.Kean represents New Jersey\u2019s highly competitive 7th Congressional District, one of the Democrats\u2019 top pickup opportunities heading into November. His absence became an issue in the race as Democrats questioned whether constituents were receiving adequate representation while Kean remained out of public view. Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, is expected to challenge Kean in what is projected to be one of the country\u2019s most competitive House contests.Before Tuesday\u2019s announcement, President Donald Trump and House Republican leaders had continued backing Kean\u2019s reelection campaign despite his absence. Trump endorsed Kean earlier this month, while Johnson repeatedly defended the congressman\u2019s right to medical privacy and urged reporters to be patient.Kean, the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., missed more than 100 House votes during his absence, though his office maintained that he continued to perform constituent services and campaign activities remotely.The congressman\u2019s remarks drew support from some lawmakers who have publicly discussed their own struggles with mental illness. At the same time, critics argued that while Kean\u2019s diagnosis deserved empathy, his constituents also deserved greater transparency during an absence that stretched nearly four months.New York Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres, who has spoken openly about living with depression, wrote on X that he had \u201cdeep sympathy for anyone struggling with mental illness,\u201d but added that \u201cpublic office carries a duty of transparency.\u201d\u201cWhen a public official is absent for an extended period,\u201d Torres wrote, \u201cthe public has a right to an honest explanation.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-2"],"yoast_head":"\nCongressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression - Blue Route Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression - Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) revealed Tuesday that the undisclosed medical condition that kept him away from Congress for nearly four months was depression, ending months of speculation about one of the House GOP\u2019s most closely watched absences.Returning to the House floor for the first time since early March, Kean disclosed that he was hospitalized after experiencing health concerns and was ultimately diagnosed with depression, a condition he described as far more debilitating than many people realize.\u201cMany people think it is feeling sad. It is so much more than that,\u201d Kean told colleagues. \u201cIt is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.\u201dThe announcement comes after Kean missed more than 100 House votes and largely disappeared from public view, creating headaches for House Republican leadership as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attempted to navigate the chamber\u2019s razor-thin majority.Kean last cast a vote on March 5 before abruptly stepping away from Congress. His office initially described the situation only as a \u201cpersonal medical issue,\u201d repeatedly declining to elaborate while assuring constituents the congressman expected to make a full recovery.Earlier this month, Kean\u2019s political adviser, Harrison Neely, announced the congressman would return to Washington on June 30 and promised he would be \u201cfully transparent\u201d about his condition.On Tuesday, Kean explained that he initially entered the hospital for medical testing before receiving his diagnosis. \u201cI was given the diagnosis of depression,\u201d he said. Kean said doctors advised him to remain hospitalized because it offered the quickest path to recovery. \u201cI was hesitant,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I had time for it.\u201dThe second-term Republican acknowledged that when he previously told constituents he expected to return within weeks, he believed that timeline was accurate. \u201cBut as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing,\u201d Kean said. \u201cToday I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love.\u201d Kean characterized himself as \u201ca private person by nature,\u201d explaining why he chose not to disclose his diagnosis sooner.He also encouraged others struggling with mental illness to seek treatment. \u201cAsking for help is not a weakness,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a strength.\u201d Despite revealing the reason for his prolonged absence, Kean left Capitol Hill immediately after delivering his remarks without answering reporters\u2019 questions, leaving several unresolved what initially prompted his hospitalization.Speaker Johnson said he had repeatedly encouraged Kean to be more forthcoming with the public during his absence. \u201cI encouraged him all along to be as transparent as possible,\u201d Johnson told reporters. \u201cI\u2019m glad he finally has.\u201d Johnson declined to criticize Kean further, saying the decision ultimately rested with the New Jersey congressman. \u201cIt\u2019s his personal issue,\u201d the speaker said.Kean represents New Jersey\u2019s highly competitive 7th Congressional District, one of the Democrats\u2019 top pickup opportunities heading into November. His absence became an issue in the race as Democrats questioned whether constituents were receiving adequate representation while Kean remained out of public view. Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, is expected to challenge Kean in what is projected to be one of the country\u2019s most competitive House contests.Before Tuesday\u2019s announcement, President Donald Trump and House Republican leaders had continued backing Kean\u2019s reelection campaign despite his absence. Trump endorsed Kean earlier this month, while Johnson repeatedly defended the congressman\u2019s right to medical privacy and urged reporters to be patient.Kean, the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., missed more than 100 House votes during his absence, though his office maintained that he continued to perform constituent services and campaign activities remotely.The congressman\u2019s remarks drew support from some lawmakers who have publicly discussed their own struggles with mental illness. At the same time, critics argued that while Kean\u2019s diagnosis deserved empathy, his constituents also deserved greater transparency during an absence that stretched nearly four months.New York Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres, who has spoken openly about living with depression, wrote on X that he had \u201cdeep sympathy for anyone struggling with mental illness,\u201d but added that \u201cpublic office carries a duty of transparency.\u201d\u201cWhen a public official is absent for an extended period,\u201d Torres wrote, \u201cthe public has a right to an honest explanation.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-01T05:10:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"headline\":\"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-01T05:10:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813\"},\"wordCount\":787,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/6bdd5f7482f44a73f7d534513ab5281a.avif\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813\",\"name\":\"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression - Blue Route Journal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/6bdd5f7482f44a73f7d534513ab5281a.avif\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-01T05:10:04+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/6bdd5f7482f44a73f7d534513ab5281a.avif\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/6bdd5f7482f44a73f7d534513ab5281a.avif\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":675},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=813#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Blue Route Journal\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression - Blue Route Journal","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression - Blue Route Journal","og_description":"Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) revealed Tuesday that the undisclosed medical condition that kept him away from Congress for nearly four months was depression, ending months of speculation about one of the House GOP\u2019s most closely watched absences.Returning to the House floor for the first time since early March, Kean disclosed that he was hospitalized after experiencing health concerns and was ultimately diagnosed with depression, a condition he described as far more debilitating than many people realize.\u201cMany people think it is feeling sad. It is so much more than that,\u201d Kean told colleagues. \u201cIt is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.\u201dThe announcement comes after Kean missed more than 100 House votes and largely disappeared from public view, creating headaches for House Republican leadership as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attempted to navigate the chamber\u2019s razor-thin majority.Kean last cast a vote on March 5 before abruptly stepping away from Congress. His office initially described the situation only as a \u201cpersonal medical issue,\u201d repeatedly declining to elaborate while assuring constituents the congressman expected to make a full recovery.Earlier this month, Kean\u2019s political adviser, Harrison Neely, announced the congressman would return to Washington on June 30 and promised he would be \u201cfully transparent\u201d about his condition.On Tuesday, Kean explained that he initially entered the hospital for medical testing before receiving his diagnosis. \u201cI was given the diagnosis of depression,\u201d he said. Kean said doctors advised him to remain hospitalized because it offered the quickest path to recovery. \u201cI was hesitant,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I had time for it.\u201dThe second-term Republican acknowledged that when he previously told constituents he expected to return within weeks, he believed that timeline was accurate. \u201cBut as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing,\u201d Kean said. \u201cToday I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love.\u201d Kean characterized himself as \u201ca private person by nature,\u201d explaining why he chose not to disclose his diagnosis sooner.He also encouraged others struggling with mental illness to seek treatment. \u201cAsking for help is not a weakness,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a strength.\u201d Despite revealing the reason for his prolonged absence, Kean left Capitol Hill immediately after delivering his remarks without answering reporters\u2019 questions, leaving several unresolved what initially prompted his hospitalization.Speaker Johnson said he had repeatedly encouraged Kean to be more forthcoming with the public during his absence. \u201cI encouraged him all along to be as transparent as possible,\u201d Johnson told reporters. \u201cI\u2019m glad he finally has.\u201d Johnson declined to criticize Kean further, saying the decision ultimately rested with the New Jersey congressman. \u201cIt\u2019s his personal issue,\u201d the speaker said.Kean represents New Jersey\u2019s highly competitive 7th Congressional District, one of the Democrats\u2019 top pickup opportunities heading into November. His absence became an issue in the race as Democrats questioned whether constituents were receiving adequate representation while Kean remained out of public view. Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, is expected to challenge Kean in what is projected to be one of the country\u2019s most competitive House contests.Before Tuesday\u2019s announcement, President Donald Trump and House Republican leaders had continued backing Kean\u2019s reelection campaign despite his absence. Trump endorsed Kean earlier this month, while Johnson repeatedly defended the congressman\u2019s right to medical privacy and urged reporters to be patient.Kean, the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., missed more than 100 House votes during his absence, though his office maintained that he continued to perform constituent services and campaign activities remotely.The congressman\u2019s remarks drew support from some lawmakers who have publicly discussed their own struggles with mental illness. At the same time, critics argued that while Kean\u2019s diagnosis deserved empathy, his constituents also deserved greater transparency during an absence that stretched nearly four months.New York Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres, who has spoken openly about living with depression, wrote on X that he had \u201cdeep sympathy for anyone struggling with mental illness,\u201d but added that \u201cpublic office carries a duty of transparency.\u201d\u201cWhen a public official is absent for an extended period,\u201d Torres wrote, \u201cthe public has a right to an honest explanation.\u201d","og_url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813","og_site_name":"Blue Route Journal","article_published_time":"2026-07-01T05:10:04+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"headline":"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression","datePublished":"2026-07-01T05:10:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813"},"wordCount":787,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6bdd5f7482f44a73f7d534513ab5281a.avif","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813","name":"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression - Blue Route Journal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6bdd5f7482f44a73f7d534513ab5281a.avif","datePublished":"2026-07-01T05:10:04+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6bdd5f7482f44a73f7d534513ab5281a.avif","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6bdd5f7482f44a73f7d534513ab5281a.avif","width":1200,"height":675},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=813#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Congressman Gone MIA Reveals He Missed 3 Months Of Work Due To Depression"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/","name":"Blue Route Journal","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/blueroutejournal.com"],"url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=813"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}