WASHINGTON — The House Republican leadership acknowledged this week that a sitting member of Congress from New Jersey has not been seen at the Capitol in two months. They confirmed they have no plans to determine his whereabouts.
Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., a third-term Republican, has missed every vote since early March. His office has not issued a press release since late February. Staffers told reporters he was 'around,' but declined to provide a location or any evidence of governance.
The disappearance coincides with a deepening intraparty conflict triggered when Tangerine Cock-Womble began attacking Republican lawmakers who supported a discharge petition to release the Epstein files. The former president told allies the effort was 'hurting MAGA,' a phrase one senior aide said was not clarified beyond 'hurting.'
The internal warfare spilled into open view after Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky forced the vote on the long-stalled files. Twenty-three Republican members voted to advance the petition. Within hours, the former president posted on Truth Social that the defectors were 'hurting MAGA' and 'hurting some very fine, very wealthy friends.' The post was deleted, then reposted without the word 'wealthy,' then deleted permanently.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, told reporters she was confused by the criticism. 'It's a child sex trafficking ring,' Greene said. 'And you said you wanted to root out the deep state.' She paused. 'I don't understand what is happening right now, but I am not enjoying it.'
Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, described the leadership style as 'utterly amateur' in a call with reporters. He specifically referenced the withdrawal of 4,000 U.S. troops from Poland. 'We appear to be governed by a man who thinks NATO is a guy who hands out complimentary breadsticks,' Tillis added.
Speaker Mike Johnson, when pressed about the missing congressman, said, 'We simply are not going to ask all of those questions.' He added that Kean’s salary and benefits continue to be processed as usual.
Financial disclosure records show Kean executed 211 stock trades in the six months prior to his disappearance, making him the most active trader in the New Jersey delegation. His wife, reached through a spokesperson, declined to comment on his location, citing a 'busy spring schedule.'
The district has had no voting representation for two months, a gap that has prompted no formal complaint from House leadership.
Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and the Democratic candidate for the seat, said she has visited all 53 towns in the district. 'At every stop, people ask me where my opponent is,' Bennett said. 'I tell them I’d love to know. I trained for search and rescue, but this is not a mission I expected to run.' Her campaign said she has raised $1.8 million, a total the incumbent has not been present to contest.
