Questions mount as Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. remains absent amid undisclosed illness

Published May 15, 2026 2:32pm ET | Updated May 15, 2026 2:32pm ET



Scrutiny over Rep. Thomas Kean Jr.’s (R-NJ) monthslong absence on Capitol Hill has hit a fever pitch, with his office providing few details as to the congressman’s whereabouts.

Kean’s father, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., told CNN that his son is “under the care of a doctor,” and that his son is recovering from a serious, but temporary illness. Kean Sr. declined to provide details about his son’s health but told the outlet he should be back soon.

“He’s hopefully coming back soon and he’s under the care of a doctor,” Kean Sr. told CNN. “They all agree he’s going to be fine. He’s under a doctor’s care.”

On Thursday, the New York Times reported that Kean’s chief of staff, Dan Scharfenberger, said there are “no cameras where Tom is.”

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