‘It’s embarrassing’: Boebert slams GOP colleague, says depression doesn’t excuse months of missed votes

Boebert’s blunt criticism of absent GOP lawmaker sparks debate over mental health and public duty

WASHINGTON — Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) is facing scrutiny after delivering a remarkably candid assessment of a fellow Republican congressman who revealed he had been absent from Capitol Hill for months while dealing with depression.

The controversy erupted after Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) disclosed that a depression diagnosis contributed to his extended absence from congressional duties, a revelation that quickly generated discussion throughout the House Republican conference.

Boebert, speaking with TMZ outside the Capitol on Tuesday, made clear she was not persuaded that the explanation justified months away from the job.

“I think it’s embarrassing, still, even more so,” Boebert said. “Sure, like, take care of yourself, get healthy, but who gets to take four months off of work because they’re sad?”

The exchange quickly turned into a broader discussion about whether elected officials should be held to a different standard when dealing with health issues that affect their ability to perform their duties. When asked whether a physician’s recommendation should take priority over congressional responsibilities, Boebert questioned the circumstances surrounding Kean’s absence.

“Maybe he should have been institutionalized if it were that bad. I don’t know. It’s embarrassing,” she said.

The New Jersey Republican’s absence has drawn attention because of the razor-thin Republican majority in the House, where every vote can prove critical. During several key legislative battles this year, Republican leaders have struggled to maintain attendance and secure enough votes to advance priority legislation.

pic.twitter.com/4bnkizkBL5

— Tom Kean (@KeanForCongress) April 27, 2026

Boebert argued that elected officials owe their constituents representation regardless of personal struggles. “If you’re depressed, okay, come in the back door, put your card in, vote, and leave,” she said. “You don’t have to talk to anybody. You can keep your head down low, vote, and go home.” She later added that failing to appear for votes amounted to “literally taxation without representation.”

Kean’s office has emphasized that he sought treatment and has now returned to congressional duties.

I’m healthier, stronger, and more determined than ever to serve the people of New Jersey’s Seventh District.

Thank you. I’m honored to be back. Let’s get to work.

— Tom Kean (@KeanForCongress) June 30, 2026

Many employers have expanded leave policies and workplace accommodations for mental health treatment, while advocates argue that depression and other conditions should be treated with the same seriousness as physical illnesses.

Others contend that elected office carries unique obligations because constituents have no ability to choose an alternate representative when their member is absent for extended periods.

Leave it to Congress to stumble into one of those conversations where nobody walks away happy.

On one side, you’ve got people arguing that depression is a serious medical condition that deserves treatment and understanding.

On the other, you’ve got voters who elected someone to show up and vote on their behalf and may be wondering where their representative disappeared to for months.

Those two realities can exist at the same time. The political problem here isn’t that Tom Kean sought treatment. Most Americans would probably encourage that.

The political problem is transparency. When a member of Congress vanishes from public view for months in a chamber where major legislation is often decided by a handful of votes, questions are inevitable. Constituents tend to expect some explanation when the person they elected isn’t participating in the job.

Boebert, being Boebert, didn’t exactly choose the soft-focus Hallmark Channel version of that argument. She chose the flamethrower.

That’s not surprising. Nobody has ever mistaken Lauren Boebert for someone who delivers criticism wrapped in bubble wrap and a sympathy card.

The larger issue is one Congress rarely discusses honestly: what should happen when an elected official becomes unable to perform the job for an extended period?

Corporate America has procedures. Professional sports have injured reserve lists. Congress mostly has awkward press conferences and uncomfortable interviews.

As for whether Boebert’s comments help Republicans politically, that’s another matter entirely.

When the headline becomes the argument instead of the issue, Washington usually finds itself debating the wrong thing.