Republican Congressman Tom Kean vanished for 116 days for depression treatment
"Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing. I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay. I was given the diagnosis of depression. Now when people hear the word depression, many people think simply feel it means feeling sad. But depression is so much more than that. It is physical. It is emotional. Until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to understand how powerful this illness can be."
About this episode
Breaking Points hosts Crystal Ball and Emily Jashinsky examine troubling patterns of health transparency among elected officials, focusing on new revelations about Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Congressman Tom Kean. Fire and EMS dispatch records revealed McConnell was found unconscious at his DC residence on June 14th with CPR in progress for cardiac arrest, yet his office has provided no comment despite his continued service chairing the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense. This follows Breaking Points' exclusive December reporting showing McConnell being pushed in a wheelchair at Reagan National Airport, information the mainstream press had reportedly witnessed but not covered. The episode also covers Kean's announcement that he disappeared for 116 days for depression treatment, during which his staff gave cryptic excuses and he won his Republican primary. LeverNews reported Kean repeatedly voted against paid sick leave for New Jersey workers while serving as state senator, creating stark hypocrisy with his taxpayer-funded four-month absence. Fellow Republican Lauren Boebert criticized Kean harshly, asking who gets to take four months off work and suggesting congressional duties are minimal enough that members could simply show up briefly to vote. The hosts argue these cases represent democracy failure and declining empire symptoms, noting Dianne Feinstein's similar situation where establishment figures protected her from primary challenges despite obvious incapacity. Both McConnell and Kean continue serving despite serious health issues with limited transparency, raising questions about accountability when elected officials can hide their conditions from constituents while wielding significant power over policy and appropriations.
Key takeaways
- Mitch McConnell was found unconscious with CPR in progress for cardiac arrest at his DC residence on June 14th according to newly released EMS dispatch records, with no comment from his office.
- McConnell continues chairing the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Defense despite multiple public health episodes including falls, freezing on camera, and being pushed in a wheelchair at Reagan Airport.
- Republican Congressman Tom Kean disappeared for 116 days for depression treatment while his staff gave cryptic responses, and he won his primary during hospitalization.
- Kean voted against paid sick leave for New Jersey workers in 2018 despite taking a taxpayer-funded four-month congressional absence for his own health issues.
- Lauren Boebert criticized Kean, asking who gets four months off work and suggesting congressional duties are so minimal members could just show up briefly to vote.
- The cases represent democracy failure where elected officials face no electoral consequences for health-related absences and lack of transparency with constituents.
- Breaking Points exclusively reported in December that McConnell was being pushed in a wheelchair at Reagan Airport, information mainstream press had witnessed but not covered.