Republican lawmaker re-emerges in US House after months of absence over ‘depression’

New Jersey’s Tom Kean Jr, who last voted in March, says he was diagnosed with depression after entering hospital

Tom Kean Jr, a Republican congressman who disappeared from the Capitol for nearly four months with little explanation, re-emerged on Tuesday and said that he was absent while dealing with depression.

“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 in a speech on the floor of the House Tuesday morning.

Kean, who represents a swing district in New Jersey, had last voted on 5 March before disappearing, with his office in late April saying only that he was dealing with a “personal health matter” and would be back “soon”.

In the first comments he has made since returning to Washington DC, the congressman did not say directly why he had kept his mental health struggles private, but described himself as a “private person by nature”, and indicated that the treatment for depression took longer than expected.

“The doctors recommended that I remain in the hospital to address my illness. They explained to me that this would be the fastest way to recover, and to be honest, I was hesitant. I didn’t think that I had time for it,” Kean said.

Though he initially did not believe he would require a “long-term stay” to address his condition, Kean said: “When I first informed the public that I was dealing with a medical issue, I was still trying to understand what was happening myself. When I said I hope to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it.

“Those were the best estimates 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,” he said.

The congressman added that he was “grateful that I accepted help, because today I stand before you healthier, stronger, and excited to return to the work that I love”.

Kean’s mysterious absence fuelled speculation about where he might be, and what might have been keeping him away from the Capitol, where his absence complicated the GOP’s ability to control of the House of Representatives. Last week, a New York Times reporter found Kean at his New Jersey home, but the congressman declined to comment.

Kean reportedly traded stocks during the months he was absent, drawing criticism from Democrats who are hoping to unseat him and win the House majority in November’s midterm elections.

In comments before Kean’s speech, the Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, downplayed his absence while indicating it could have been better explained.

“There’s no conspiracy involved in this, there’s nothing scandalous at all. He has a health condition, as he said,” Johnson told reporters. “If it were me, I would have been more specific about that, and I encouraged him to be.”

In 2023, the Democratic senator John Fetterman sought inpatient treatment for depression, but in that case, his office promptly announced his hospitalization.