Bennett wishes Kean well, then turns campaign back to his record

Rep. Thomas Kean Jr.’s Democratic opponent, Rebecca Bennett, said she was relieved the two-term Republican is recovering after he disclosed Tuesday that he spent the last four months hospitalized for depression, but quickly pivoted to criticizing his record in Congress and renewing a disputed allegation about his financial disclosures.

Kean (R-Westfield) returned to the House floor Tuesday after an absence of more than three months and disclosed for the first time that he had been receiving inpatient treatment for depression.

He said doctors urged him to remain hospitalized after what he expected would be routine medical testing, and acknowledged that he struggled with whether to step away from his responsibilities before ultimately following medical advice.

In a statement issued after Kean’s remarks, Bennett said she was glad he was recovering and praised him for speaking publicly about mental health.

“I am relieved that Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is well and continue to wish him good health,” said Bennett.

Bennett said she entered the race because Kean “was failing our community long before this absence,” citing his vote for the Republican budget reconciliation package, his handling of federal funding for the Gateway project, and his support for military action that she said has increased costs for New Jersey families.

“It’s time we hold Tom Kean Jr. accountable for his record and bring a new generation of leadership to Washington,” she said.

Bennett also renewed criticism of Kean’s financial disclosure reports, repeating false claims previously made by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that he continued to trade stocks while hospitalized.

The Westfield Republican has said he does not personally buy or sell stocks and that all of his investable assets are managed by independent financial professionals who make investment decisions without his input, prior knowledge, or direction.  Some transactions are also attributable to interests held through family trusts.  Like all members of Congress, Kean is required under federal law to publicly report covered securities transactions, regardless of whether he personally directed them.

In 2023, Kean informed the House Ethics Committee that independent professionals were managing his assets because he was unable to establish a qualified blind trust under existing House rules.  His attorney told the committee that Kean has “no involvement” in investment decisions and sought to prohibit investments in companies tied to foreign adversaries and short-selling of American companies, restrictions House ethics rules do not currently permit in qualified blind trusts.

Kean has also sponsored legislation aimed at tightening congressional investment rules.

Last year, he joined Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan) in introducing bipartisan legislation barring members of Congress from profiting from companies tied to foreign adversaries.  He also partnered with Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) on legislation to prohibit members of Congress, their spouses, and dependents from engaging in short sales of certain stocks.

Bennett has gone further, advocating for an outright ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks.