Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s controversial nominee to steer the Well being and Human Companies Division, confronted robust questions on his lengthy file of anti-vaccine advocacy and different conspiracy theories at a Senate affirmation listening to Wednesday.
After Kennedy informed the committee in his opening assertion that he didn’t oppose vaccines and that his youngsters had been vaccinated, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) famous he as soon as informed a podcast host he wished he may return in time and not vaccinate his children.
“Are you mendacity to Congress at this time whenever you say you’re pro-vaccine, or had been you mendacity on these podcasts?” requested Wyden, the highest Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.
Kennedy stated these remarks had been taken out of context, telling the senator that “bringing this up proper now could be dishonest.”
In 2023, Kennedy stated in a podcast interview that “There’s no vaccine that’s secure and efficient,” and in a 2021 podcast he urged individuals to “resist” Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention pointers on when youngsters ought to get vaccinated. He stated he wished he may return and never get his youngsters vaccinated. “I might do something for that. I might pay something to have the ability to do this,” he said.
However in his listening to on Wednesday, Kennedy sought to assuage skeptical senators about his anti-vaccine file.
“I help the measles vaccine. I help the polio vaccine. I’ll do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it tough or discourages individuals from taking both of these vaccines,” Kennedy stated, contradicting his many previous feedback questioning the protection of each.
“Anyone that believes that ought to have a look at the measles guide you wrote, saying mother and father have been misled in saying measles is a pandemic. That’s not true,” Wyden stated.
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) additionally pressed Kennedy about spreading a wild conspiracy principle in regards to the tick-borne sickness Lyme illness, claiming it’s a army bioweapon and blaming vaccine analysis for creating the illness.
“Did you say that Lyme illness is extremely probably a materially engineered bioweapon?” Bennet requested him.
“I most likely did say that,” Kennedy responded. “And that’s what the developer of Lyme illness stated.”
Democrats additionally entered into the committee file a scathing assertion from Caroline Kennedy, RFK Jr.’s cousin and one other outstanding member of the Kennedy household, warning senators to not verify him.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who as soon as roomed with Kennedy in regulation faculty, requested him to vow that he won’t ever query the protection of vaccines.
“Frankly, you frighten individuals,” Whitehouse stated, noting a latest measles outbreak in Rhode Island.
It is a growing story. Please verify again for updates.
