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June 18, 2026 / 2:58 PM EDT
/ CBS News
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Washington — Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey will return to Congress on June 30, his spokesperson said, after being away since March in an unexplained absence that has confounded Capitol Hill.
"Congressman Kean is eager to return to in person work on June 30 and resume a full schedule," Kean's spokesperson, Harrison Neely, told CBS News on Thursday. The New Jersey Globe first reported on his return date.
Kean's whereabouts since he last voted on March 5 have not been disclosed. When he first made a statement about the absence in late April, the New Jersey Republican said he was addressing a "personal medical issue."
Kean said earlier this month that he would return to Washington within a matter of weeks , at which point he would provide more details about his health.
"Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals, I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition," Kean said in a June 2 statement released by his campaign.
The statement came hours before polls closed in New Jersey's GOP primary for his seat, in which he ran unopposed.
He has missed more than 130 votes during his absence.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters earlier this month that he had recently spoken with Kean. Johnson said he was aware of the health issue, but would not disclose the details.
"What he's dealing with is not very common and not a big thing," Johnson said.
Caitlin Yilek
contributed to this report.
Read the full article at CBS News (US) →📄Source document: Rep. Tom Kean Jr.'s Chief of Staff, Dan Scharfenberger
3 reports
NBC NewsIndependentCenter2 days agoRep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., plans to return to Congress on June 30 after an absence of nearly four months, during which he missed over 100 votes. His chief of staff confirmed the return date to NBC News. Kean's office cited a 'personal medical issue' as the reason for his absence but has not provided further details. Kean is running for re-election against Democrat Rebecca Bennett. President Donald Trump has endorsed Kean, and House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Kean's absence would not significantly affect his re-election campaign.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or emphasis. It reports on Kean's return to Congress, his absence, and related comments from officials without taking a stance or using loaded terms. The content is neutral in tone and focuses on verifiable facts.
Official sources cited
- statement Rep. Tom Kean Jr.'s Chief of Staff, Dan Scharfenberger
- press release New Jersey Globe
- statement President Donald Trump
- statement House Speaker Mike Johnson
AxiosIndependentCenter2 days agoRepublican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) plans to return to Capitol Hill on June 30 after an extended absence. Kean previously stated he was dealing with a 'personal medical issue' but has not provided further details. His spokesperson confirmed the return date and indicated that Kean intends to be transparent about his health condition upon his return. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) acknowledged awareness of Kean's health issue but respects his request for privacy.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring one side. It reports on Kean's planned return and mentions his health issue without taking a stance or using biased language. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the facts provided by Kean and his spokesperson.
Official sources cited
- government Statement from Rep. Tom Kean Jr.
- government Statement from Kean spokesperson Harrison Neely
- government Statement from Speaker Mike Johnson
CBS News (US)IndependentCenter2 days agoRepublican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey will return to Congress on June 30 after an unexplained absence since March. His spokesperson stated he is eager to resume in-person work and will provide more details about his health upon returning. Kean previously mentioned a 'personal medical issue' and indicated he would become fully transparent about his condition once he returns to Washington. He has missed over 130 votes during his absence.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring any political side. It reports on the congressman's return and provides quotes from both his spokesperson and the congressman himself, offering a balanced view of the situation without apparent bias.
United States