'No sign yet!' Missing GOP lawmaker draws crowd expecting first public remarks in months

A crowd of reporters gathered outside the Capitol Hill office of Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) Tuesday morning, but the long-missing congressman has not yet shown.

Kean last voted in the House on March 5. He has missed more than 140 votes since then.

He has said only that he is dealing with a "personal medical issue." His office said he would return on Tuesday and finally explain his absence.

"No sign yet!" Charlie Cotton, a reporter, wrote on X just after 9:30 a.m., posting a photo of reporters and a camera crew camped outside Kean's office door.

"No sight of him yet," Mychael Schnell, a Capitol Hill reporter, wrote minutes later, noting Kean was "expected to address his absence today."

A week ago, a New York Times reporter found Kean at his New Jersey home. He was dressed in a suit and tie.

"I'll talk to you next week," Kean said, and went inside.

A person familiar with his plans told CNN that Kean intends to deliver a floor speech addressing his health. His spokesperson said he would be "fully transparent."

He is also scheduled to attend a fundraiser on Tuesday evening.

Kean represents one of the most competitive House districts in the country. He is running for a third term against Democrat Rebecca Bennett.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he knows what is wrong with Kean but is keeping it private at Kean's request. "I do know what his health issue is, but he's asked me not to disclose that," Johnson said.

As of Tuesday morning, Kean's office had not said when, or whether, he would appear.