SouthernWorldwide.com – A Democratic congressman has called for greater transparency from public officials regarding extended absences, following a Republican colleague’s disclosure of his monthslong leave from Congress being for treatment of depression.
Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York stated on Tuesday that public officials have a responsibility to be open about significant absences. This comes after Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey revealed that his recent absence from House votes was due to receiving treatment for depression.
Kean had been absent from House proceedings for several months before his return on Tuesday. Torres, sharing his personal experience, expressed deep sympathy for those battling mental illness. He noted that he might not be alive today if not for extensive hospitalization and proper medication, underscoring the importance of medical leave.
However, Torres also emphasized the duty of transparency that comes with public office. He believes that when a public official is absent for an extended period, the public has a right to a truthful explanation.
Torres argued that transparency fosters public empathy, while secrecy can lead to suspicion. He advised that when in doubt, officials should choose transparency, speak the truth early, and understand that the public is often most understanding of those who are open with them.
Kean himself disclosed the reason for his prolonged absence during a speech on the House floor on Tuesday. He explained that several months prior, he had been hospitalized for testing due to health concerns. He did not anticipate the stay would be long-term.
During his speech, Kean revealed that he received a diagnosis of depression. He shared that, similar to the over 48 million Americans receiving treatment for this condition, there is no set timeline for healing or recovery.
Kean stated that recovery involves working towards getting better one day at a time. His remarks were made later in his speech on the House floor.
Following Kean’s announcement, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois commented on Kean’s situation via a post on X. Kinzinger acknowledged that compassion for Kean is certainly warranted and should be extended.
However, Kinzinger also asserted that serving in Congress is not a right. He pointed out that there are 700,000 people in Kean’s district who could have performed the duties of the office.
Kinzinger described Kean’s prolonged absence without disclosure as “absolutely unforgivable” and a dereliction of duty.
