Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) has been missing from the job for months with no explanation other than an unspecified medical issue, and no time frame to return — and now it turns out that House Republican leadership is just as in the dark on what’s going on as the general public.
According to Punchbowl News, “Kean last voted in the House on March 5. Kean’s staff has said publicly that he’s dealing with a medical issue and will return to Washington as soon as possible. No other information has been made available on the two-term lawmaker.
But what’s concerning the GOP leadership is that the 57-year-old Kean and his team aren’t giving them any more information privately. Speaker Mike Johnson and Kean have spoken once. But the entire GOP leadership is in the dark about the reasons for Kean’s 70-day absence from Congress.”
Kean’s office last month claimed he would be returning to work very soon, but there have been no updates since. Notably, a report last month found that stock trades are still being made on Kean’s behalf, even as he remains absent.
Many lawmakers are now fearful that even if Kean does return to work, he won’t be in any shape to campaign for his swing district in the fall, jeopardizing the seat at a moment when Republicans are severe underdogs to retain control of the House.
A prominent House GOP leadership aide told Punchbowl, “I don’t have any idea what’s going on,” and several lawmakers agreed with this assessment. Meanwhile, another aide said, “This is about more than one person at this point; it’s about the vote and the ability to hold the seat in the fall. The answer can’t simply be ‘trust us’ when nothing about their behavior has inspired trust.”
“Kean’s district is a top target for Democrats, who have a crowded primary full of well-funded candidates,” noted the report, which said that while Kean raised over $1 million in the previous quarter, “three of Kean’s opponents raised more than $500,000, an impressive sum for a challenger.”
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