New Jersey Congressman Tom Keane Jr. Faces Absence from Congress

Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey has reportedly signed off on at least two documents regarding travel schedules for his staff during his unexplained absence from Congress.

Despite not casting a vote since March 5, Kean authorized travel for his chief of staff, Daniel J. Scharfenberger, on March 13 and March 14. This situation has sparked curiosity among his Republican peers, many of whom note they have had minimal communication with him.

The first document, which Kean signed on March 13, permitted Scharfenberger to travel to a Las Vegas event organized by the Republican Main Street Partnership, asserting that this trip was related to official duties and would not suggest any misuse of public office. The second document, signed a day later, covered Scharfenberger’s attendance at the Spring Issues Conference in Middleburg, Virginia, hosted by Center Forward, a bipartisan group.

From March 17 to May 20, Kean missed all roll call votes. Reports indicate that he has lost a significant portion of the vote since January. His absence stems from an undisclosed illness.

Kean’s office has yet to respond to inquiries regarding his situation.

In spite of his absence, Kean is aiming for re-election in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, which currently favors Democratic voters. Four Democratic candidates are challenging him ahead of the primary election on June 2.

Fellow Republicans, Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, have expressed concern, noting a “radio silence” in their attempts to reach Kean. Richard Hudson, Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, has stated that he has not been in touch with Kean lately and is unaware of his whereabouts.

Consultant Harrison Neely indicated to Politico that Kean is still expected to run for re-election. Recently, Kean has been reaching out to Republican county chairs within his district and gave an interview to local media, although he chose not to discuss his illness in depth. He maintains that he anticipates a full recovery and plans to address his health status at a later time.

“Doctors are confident that I am on the path to a full recovery,” Kean mentioned, acknowledging the public’s need for transparency and expressing gratitude for constituents’ support. He also indicated that he intends to return to Congress soon for a roll call vote.

Republican Union County Chairman Carlos Santos noted that Kean “sounded good” during their conversation, while Somerset County Republican Party Chair Tracy DiFrancesco described him as “perfectly fine,” reassuring that he should be back in the race shortly.