Missing Congressman Tom Kean Appears To Have Approved Staff Travel Times During Absence

Republican New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr. 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 March 14, despite not having voted in Congress since March 5. The congressman’s absence has raised questions even among his Republican colleagues, who have said they have barely kept in contact with Kean.

The first disclosure, which Kean signed on March 13, stated that 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 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 policy organization.

Kean missed every roll call vote from March 17 to May 20, according to GovTrack. He also missed 20% of the votes between January and March. The congressman has been out due to an undisclosed illness.

Kean’s office did not immediately respond to the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.