GOP Rep. Tom Kean returns to Congress after mysterious illness

Washington — Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey disclosed Tuesday that he was diagnosed with depression resulting in a long stay in the hospital, which has kept him out of public view for months.

"I'm grateful that I accepted help," Kean said in a speech on the House floor. "Asking for help is not a weakness. It is a strength."

Kean, who is running for a third term in a competitive district, last voted on March 5 and has missed more than 140 votes as House GOP leaders try to advance their legislative priorities with little room to spare.

Kean said he initially entered the hospital for testing due to health concerns when he was given the diagnosis and doctors recommended that he remain in the hospital to address the illness.

"Now, when people hear the word 'depression,' many people think … it means feeling sad, but depression is so much more than that. It is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be," he said.

During the hospital stay, Kean said he "began to understand not only my diagnosis, but how long depression had been affecting my life."

Kean added that "there is no timeline for healing, there is no timeline for recovery, only the work of getting better one day at a time."

Ahead of Kean's floor speech, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he would have been more forthcoming about his condition.

"If it were me, I would have been more specific about that, and I encouraged him to be," the Louisiana Republican said.

Still, Johnson defended Kean and said the New Jersey Republican's staff has "worked overtime" and has been in "constant contact" with his office.

"I think his constituents have been served throughout this process," Johnson said. "I think Tom gets reelected easily this fall."

After his extended absence became apparent, Johnson said he had spoken with Kean by phone on April 24 and that he was "attending to a personal health matter and expects to be back to 100% very soon." Johnson told reporters weeks later that Kean "sounded good and optimistic" in the April call. The Louisiana Republican added, "I don't even know the details" about his condition.

Kean's first public statement on his absence came in late April, when the congressman said he was addressing a "personal medical issue."

"My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon," the April 27 statement said. "I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent."

"There's no cameras where Tom is,"