House Republicans are facing a pivotal week regarding legislative decisions, but one Republican, Rep. Tom Keene Jr. of New Jersey, has missed numerous votes recently due to unexplained health issues. It’s uncertain whether he will be present this week as the House debates a budget proposal aimed at funding immigration enforcement and a bill related to warrantless surveillance powers.
Keene, who has been absent for quite some time, is in a situation where House Speaker Mike Johnson can’t afford to lose many votes due to the narrow Republican majority. His publicist, Harrison Neely, assured that Keene is expected to return to a full schedule soon, though specifics about his illness or exact return timeline were not shared.
Since March 17, Keene has missed 50 roll call votes, marking a 100% absentee rate, with his last vote having taken place on March 5. Johnson recently spoke with Keene and expressed optimism about his recovery, calling him a diligent member of Congress who is committed to New Jersey and the nation.
The scrutiny surrounding Keene’s prolonged absence is heightened as the Democratic Party aims at his seat with the midterms approaching. The Cook Political Report predicts challenges for his re-election, especially since he narrowly defeated Democratic candidate Sue Altman in the last election. Multiple Democratic challengers have emerged for the primaries coming up in June.
Criticism from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has surfaced, particularly for Keene’s lack of transparency regarding his health. They believe voters deserve to know his situation, especially as he has continued trading stocks while absent from Congress. A spokesperson for Keene said that his investments were managed by an advisor without his direct involvement, a point that has raised eyebrows.
Interestingly, despite his absence, Keene’s office has maintained an active social media presence. Recently, they highlighted two bills he introduced that progressed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, albeit without noting his absence during the committee’s discussions.
