{"id":10638,"date":"2026-05-22T00:23:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T00:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=10638"},"modified":"2026-05-22T00:23:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T00:23:54","slug":"nj-rep-tom-kean-jr-breaks-silence-as-gop-frustrations-mount-over-77-day-absence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=10638","title":{"rendered":"NJ Rep. Tom Kean Jr. breaks silence as GOP frustrations mount over 77-day absence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rep. Tom Kean Jr. broke his 77-day silence, citing a \u201cpersonal medical issue\u201d for missing 100 votes.<\/li>\n<li>Kean\u2019s absence has spooked Republicans in Washington and New Jersey, impacting a vulnerable House seat.<\/li>\n<li>House Speaker Mike Johnson admits he\u2019s not sure what\u2019s going on; GOP strategists slam the lack of transparency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>WASHINGTON \u2014 Missing Rep. Tom Kean Jr. finally broke his silence Thursday after skipping 100 votes in a row in a barely explained absence from Congress.<\/p>\n<p>The New Jersey Republican declined to elaborate on his vague explanations that he was dealing with a \u201cpersonal medical issue\u201d or give a timeline for when he plans to return to work, other than \u201cin the next couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy doctors are confident that I\u2019m on the road to a full recovery,\u201d Kean, 57, told the New Jersey Globe in his first known interview in his 77-day disappearance from work.\u00a0\u201cI understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI anticipate that in the next couple of weeks, I\u2019ll return to voting and to the campaign trail.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While many past and present lawmakers have missed far more votes than Kean has, the mysterious absence has spooked Republicans both inside the beltway and on the ground in New Jersey because he\u2019s up for reelection in two weeks.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Rep. Tom Kean Jr. spoke to a reporter Thursday but provided few new details on his condition on the record. <span class=\"credit\">Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who claims to have spoken directly to Kean \u201ca few weeks ago,\u201d admitted that he has very little idea what\u2019s going on with him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re expecting him back here soon. He\u2019s had a medical issue. He\u2019s going to be fully transparent and disclose that,\u201d Johnson told reporters Wednesday. \u201cI don\u2019t even know the details.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kean represents the most competitive congressional district in New Jersey and one of the most vulnerable House GOP seats in the country. The primary is less than two weeks away on June 2 and Republicans don\u2019t have a solid backup plan. Replacing him after the primary would be complex.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cEverybody I\u2019m talking to is just shocked at how poorly this is being handled by the Kean operation,\u201d a New Jersey-based GOP consultant vented to The Post. \u201cIt\u2019s created an air of mystery that\u2019s fueled the story, or frankly, created the story.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe general consensus from the people I\u2019m talking to is that something is prohibiting him from looking at an iPhone and doing a proof of life video \u2026 saying, \u2018I\u2019m here, I\u2019m going through something, but I\u2019ll be back,&#8217;\u201d the consultant added.<\/p>\n<p>The Post talked to staffers at his DC office and was referred to his communications team for comment. His communications team did not respond.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s almost like a textbook example of what not to do in a crisis situation like this because eventually the truth will come out,\u201d a Republican strategist told The Post. \u201cIt\u2019s leading people to think the absolute worst, and the staff is tweeting like he\u2019s actually there in Congress when he\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Houes Speaker Mike Johndon admitted he\u2019s not fully aware of what\u2019s going on with Rep. Tom Kean Jr. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s just a lot of confusion and concern, and people are thinking this is the most insane thing that could be happening right now,\u201d the strategist said of the sentiment in New Jersey political circles. <\/p>\n<p>The rumor mill has been running wild with different speculation about what could be going on with Kean. But so far, nothing credible has emerged.<\/p>\n<p>Fueling concerns are seemingly cryptic explanations about his whereabouts. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s no cameras where Tom is,\u201d his chief of staff, Dan Scharfenberger, told The New York Times earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>His father, Tom Kean Sr., the former governor of New Jersey, predicted to NJ.com his son would be back on Capitol Hill in about \u201ctwo or three weeks,\u201d noting that \u201c[a]ny time you\u2019ve been through a serious illness, you can\u2019t be 100% the day you get back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat I can tell you is that the congressman is dealing with a personal health matter. He is focused on his recovery,\u201d Kean consultant Harrison Neely told The Post. \u201cHis doctors are constantly assuring him that he is going to reach full recovery, and the timeline for that is shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Tom Kean Jr. comes from a political dynasty, whose family\u2019s ties to New Jersey date back to the Revolutionary War, <span class=\"credit\">CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cHe is 100% planning to run for reelection.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Neely wouldn\u2019t elaborate beyond that.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Eli Cousin blasted Kean, arguing his \u201clack of transparency, disrespect for his constituents, and refusal to do the job he was elected to do is disqualifying.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci told The Post that the GOP respects his privacy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe look forward to his return soon and, in the meantime, have staffed up in the district and remain fully committed to his re-election in November,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 728px 160px; gap:2px; width:908px; background:#eee; padding:2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u901a\u680f\u9876\u90e8\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u6a2a\u5e45 908x258 \u8de8\u6574\u884c -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:258px; background:#ff6b6b; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114307\" data-width=\"908\" data-height=\"258\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114307});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u7b2c\u4e8c\u901a\u680f\uff1a728\u00d790 \u901a\u680f -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:90px; background:#4ecdc4; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114300\" data-width=\"728\" data-height=\"90\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114300});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u4e3b\u680f\uff1a\u591a\u5e7f\u544a\u5806\u53e0 -->\r\n  <div style=\"display:grid; 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display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/05\/21\/us-news\/tom-kean-jr-breaks-silence-but-says-little-as-gop-frustrations-mount-over-his-mysterious-77-day-absence\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rep. Tom Kean Jr. broke his 77-day silence, citing a \u201cpersonal medical issue\u201d for missing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10639,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[10426,10427,1218,10425,709,10424,2390,1476,1219,3372],"class_list":["post-10638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-77day","tag-absence","tag-breaks","tag-frustrations","tag-gop","tag-kean","tag-mount","tag-rep","tag-silence","tag-tom"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686.jpg",1200,799,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686-768x511.jpg",640,426,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686-1024x682.jpg",640,426,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686.jpg",1200,799,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686.jpg",1200,799,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686-1115x715.jpg",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686-1024x682.jpg",1024,682,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/newspress-collage-7of78bk53-1779403323686-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=349\" rel=\"category\">Blog<\/a>","tag_info":"Blog","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10638"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10638\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}