New Jersey Republican congressman Tom Kean Jr has ended months of speculation over his sudden disappearance from Capitol Hill, revealing he was hospitalised for depression. The 57-year-old had been absent from the House of Representatives for 142 days, missing more than 140 votes during that stretch.
Kean addressed colleagues on the House floor on his return this week, offering his first detailed explanation for the gap. His district is widely regarded as a swing seat, with a history of flipping between the two parties from election to election, which means his health and his absence carry political weight beyond his own constituency.
