Representative Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) has emerged from nearly four months of absence, speaking publicly for the first time since his mysterious disappearance.
On Wednesday, Kean greeted a reporter at his home in Westfield, New Jersey, where he was seen wearing a suit and a tie.
When asked about his prolonged absence, Kean declined to provide details, stating only "It's good to see you. I'll talk to you next week. Thank you."
Kean's top adviser, Harrison Neely, later promised that the congressman would be "fully transparent" once he returns to Washington next week.
Kean has missed over 135 roll call votes since vanishing, with the last recorded sighting on March 5, when he voted on Capitol Hill.
Neighbors in Kean's own city reported not seeing him in months, and the family's vacation house in Bay Head, N.J., appeared vacant the weekend before Memorial Day.
Additionally, residents of Fishers Island, N.Y., where the Kean family owns property, had not noticed the congressman's absence.
Interestingly, however, Kean did find time to engage in financial activities while out of the public eye, buying and trading stocks.
As one of the most vulnerable Republican members, Kean's emergence comes at a critical time for the party, particularly with the upcoming election.
Earlier this month, Kean won the Republican nomination for his Seventh District seat, albeit unopposed, while the Democrats nominated 39-year-old Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot.
The district is considered one of the most competitive in the country, with a history of narrow margins, with Joe Biden winning the seat by four points in 2020 and Trump carrying it by two points.
