Missing Congressman Tom Kean Appears To Have Approved Staff Travel Times During Absence
New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has signed at least two documents approving his staff’s travel schedule during his mysterious absence from Congress.
Kean approved two travel dates for his chief of staff, Daniel J. Scharfenberger, on March 13 and 14, although he has not voted in Congress since March 5. The congressman’s absence raised questions even among his Republican colleagues, who said they had barely kept in touch with Kean.
The first disclosure, which Kean signed on March 13, said Scharfenberger’s trip to an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, hosted by the Republican Main Street Partnership “was in connection with the employee’s official duties and would not create the appearance that the employee is using his or her public office for private gain.” The second document signed on March 14 involved Scharfenberger’s trip to Middleburg, Virginia, for a “spring issues conference” sponsored by Center Forward, a bipartisan political organization. (RELATED: New Jersey Republican Disappears for a Month — and No One Knows Where He Is)
Kean missed every roll-call vote from March 17 to May 20, according to GovTrack. He also missed 20% of the vote between January and March. The congressman was absent due to an undisclosed illness.
Kean’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
During his disappearance from Congress, Tom Kean appears to have signed authorizations allowing his chief of staff to take two “gift trip” trips, according to U.S. House of Representatives documents reviewed by @NOTUSreports https://t.co/3rZgyenHmy
-Dave Levinthal (@davelevinthal) May 22, 2026
Despite his absence, Kean is running for office in New Jersey’s Seventh District, which is slightly Democratic in terms of voter registration. Four Democrats are currently competing for Kean’s seat ahead of the June 2 primary.
New Jersey Republican Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew said they continued to contact Kean out of concern, although they were met with “radio silence.” National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson told Politico on May 14 that he had not recently spoken to Kean and had no idea where he was.
Kean consultant Harrison Neely also told Politico that “of course” Kean would run for re-election.
Kean began calling Republican county chairs in his district on Thursday and spoke to a local media outlet called the New Jersey Globe, although he did not detail his undisclosed illness. He said he is expected to make a full recovery and will discuss his condition at a later date.
“My doctors are confident that I am on the path to a full recovery,” Kean told the New Jersey Globe. “I understand the need for public transparency and appreciate the support of my constituents.”
Kean also said he plans to return to Capitol Hill soon for roll-call votes, according to the New Jersey Globe.
Union County Republican Chairman Carlos Santos told Politico that Kean “sounded good” on the phone. Tracy DiFrancesco, chairwoman of the Somerset County GOP, also said Kean is “perfectly fine” and is expected to return to the campaign trail in the near future.
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