Rep. Boebert Slams GOP Colleague’s ‘Embarrassing’ Excuse For Four-Month Absence

Upon returning to Capitol Hill from an extended time away for undisclosed health issues, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) finally shed some light on what has kept him away from a staggering 140 consecutive House votes.

While his revelation that he was diagnosed with depression sparked some sympathy and praise for his willingness to address the issue, plenty of others weren’t satisfied.

Some saw it as a convenient excuse, others wondered why lawmakers are afforded accommodations most other Americans aren’t, and at least one of his Republican colleagues found the entire thing “embarrassing.”

As The Hill reported:

Earlier in the day, Kean returned to the House floor for the first time since early March — after missing more than 100 votes. In explaining the reason for his disappearance, the Garden State Republican said he was hospitalized due to depression.

While Boebert said Monday it is important for her colleague to “take care” of himself and “get healthy,” she wondered “who gets to take four months off of work because they’re sad?”

She added, “Whatever the reasons may be, it’s embarrassing. I don’t care what party you’re a part of, it’s not ok.”

Her response in turn sparked a social media reaction of its own:

More Comment on Social Media:

I bet he will still get paid for those months, meanwhile, working class people have to beg for a few sick days a year 🙄

— Beth Waggoner (@BethWaggon54550) June 30, 2026

Seems this TMZ turd is more invested in getting a 'gotcha' moment from Boebert than he is in holding Kean accountable for doing the job he was elected to do.

— Scott Alan (@ScottAlan19315) June 30, 2026

Depression is a bitch. Sometimes your only goal is to make it back in to bed tonight. I’m not saying this is Tom’s case but shouldn’t be taking it as just a little sniffle or something.

— Fearless Wisco (@FearlessWisco) June 30, 2026

EPIC! Thank you @laurenboebert!

— Nick D'Agostino (@realNickDags) June 30, 2026

Here’s what HuffPost added:

She also offered a solution to his diagnosis, suggesting he could always just show up to work, cast his votes, and then leave.

“I think not showing up for work is discounting the voters. It’s not right. It’s wrong. That is literally taxation without representation. It is absolutely awful. I can’t imagine missing one or two days,” she said.

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Even though Republicans want to keep the majority, Boebert said she isn’t sure if she wants him reelected. Kean, who won his uncontested New Jersey primary, is up for reelection in November, facing Democrat Rebecca Bennett.

“I wouldn’t elect somebody just for the sake of that,” she said. “I do believe in proper representation and people doing the job that they were elected to do, that they swore that they would do.”

Here’s a clip of Kean’s remarks: