{"id":833012,"date":"2025-03-10T13:12:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T18:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/10\/rfk-jr-live-updates-senate-confirms-trumps-hhs-pick-mcconnell-votes-no\/"},"modified":"2025-03-10T13:12:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T18:12:02","slug":"rfk-jr-live-updates-senate-confirms-trumps-hhs-pick-mcconnell-votes-no","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/10\/rfk-jr-live-updates-senate-confirms-trumps-hhs-pick-mcconnell-votes-no\/","title":{"rendered":"RFK Jr. Live Updates: Senate Confirms Trump&#8217;s HHS Pick-McConnell Votes &#8216;No&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<h2>Topline<\/h2>\n<p>The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary Thursday, with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., representing the lone GOP \u201cno\u201d vote\u2014greenlighting one of Trump\u2019s most controversial nominees after Kennedy won over some skeptical senators wary of his vaccine views.<\/p>\n<figure role=\"presentation\"><figcaption><fbs-accordion current=\"-1\"><\/p>\n<p role=\"button\">Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies in front of <span data-ga-track=\"caption expand\">&#8230; [+]<\/span><span> the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in Washington DC, United States on Jan. 30, 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/fbs-accordion><small>Anadolu via Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Timeline<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><span>Feb. 13<\/span>Trump blasted McConnell as a \u201cbitter guy\u201d for voting against Kennedy, telling reporters \u201che\u2019s not voting against Bobby. He\u2019s voting against me\u201d and claiming he didn\u2019t know if McConnell had polio: \u201cI have no idea if he had polio,\u201d Trump said when asked if he was doubting McConnell survived the disease.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>Feb. 13<\/span>The Senate voted 52-48 to approve Kennedy, with all Democrats voting against him.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>McConnell was the only Republican to vote against Kennedy\u2019s confirmation, a day after McConnell also bucked his party in voting against Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence; McConnell was also one of three Republicans to vote against Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>McConnell, a survivor of childhood polio, said Kennedy \u201cfailed to prove he is the best possible person to lead America\u2019s largest health agency\u201d in a statement that cited Kennedy\u2019s vaccine skepticism and his \u201crecord of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span>Feb. 12<\/span>The Senate voted 53-47, along party lines, to invoke cloture and end debate on Kennedy\u2019s nomination, teeing him up for a final vote Thursday (though some of the GOP senators who advanced the nomination could still vote no).<\/p>\n<p><span>5:01 p.m. EST, Feb. 10<\/span>Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine\u2014one of three GOP senators who was previously considered a possible hurdle for Kennedy\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mkraju\/status\/1889072177984487440\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mkraju\/status\/1889072177984487440\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/x.com\/mkraju\/status\/1889072177984487440\" aria-label=\"told CNN\u2019s Manu Raju\">told CNN\u2019s Manu Raju<\/a> she plans to vote for Kennedy after he \u201cseemed to understand the concerns that I was raising\u201d and told her he would \u201cre-examine\u201d the White House\u2019s National Institute of Health cuts she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/news\/majority\/senator-collins-statement-on-nih-biomedical-research-cap-on-indirect-costs#:~:text=I%20have%20heard%20from%20the,be%20devastating%2C%20stopping%20vital%20biomedical\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/news\/majority\/senator-collins-statement-on-nih-biomedical-research-cap-on-indirect-costs#:~:text=I%20have%20heard%20from%20the,be%20devastating%2C%20stopping%20vital%20biomedical\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/news\/majority\/senator-collins-statement-on-nih-biomedical-research-cap-on-indirect-costs#:~:text=I%20have%20heard%20from%20the,be%20devastating%2C%20stopping%20vital%20biomedical\" aria-label=\"earlier said\">earlier said<\/a> would be \u201cdevastating, stopping vital biomedical research and leading to the loss of jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span>2:30 p.m. EST, Feb. 4<\/span>Kennedy\u2019s odds of achieving confirmation soared, according to election betting platforms, with <a href=\"https:\/\/kalshi.com\/markets\/kxsechhs\/next-secretary-of-health-and-human-services\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/kalshi.com\/markets\/kxsechhs\/next-secretary-of-health-and-human-services\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/kalshi.com\/markets\/kxsechhs\/next-secretary-of-health-and-human-services\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\">Kalshi<\/a> placing his odds at 96% and blockchain-based site <a href=\"https:\/\/polymarket.com\/event\/which-trump-picks-will-be-confirmed?tid=1738697115691\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/polymarket.com\/event\/which-trump-picks-will-be-confirmed?tid=1738697115691\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/polymarket.com\/event\/which-trump-picks-will-be-confirmed?tid=1738697115691\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\">Polymarket<\/a> showing a 97% chance of confirmation.<\/p>\n<p><span>1:15 p.m. EST, Feb. 4<\/span>Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va, who has spoken against Kennedy&#8217;s nomination, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/politics-news\/live-blog\/trump-rfk-tulsi-gabbard-netanyahu-tariffs-live-updates-rcna190377\/rcrd72210?canonicalCard=true\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/politics-news\/live-blog\/trump-rfk-tulsi-gabbard-netanyahu-tariffs-live-updates-rcna190377\/rcrd72210?canonicalCard=true\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/politics-news\/live-blog\/trump-rfk-tulsi-gabbard-netanyahu-tariffs-live-updates-rcna190377\/rcrd72210?canonicalCard=true\" aria-label=\"said\">said<\/a> &#8220;Vegas odds&#8221; are that he will be confirmed as HHS secretary after a key Republican, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, gave his support minutes before a Senate Finance Committee vote Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n<p><span>11:50 a.m. EST, Feb. 4<\/span>Cassidy a physician and chair of the Senate health committee, on Tuesday defended his support of Kennedy after publicly expressing his skepticism for the nominee before voting \u201cyes\u201d as a member of the finance committee.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy said he chose to vote for Kennedy after being assured the administration would work closely with the senate health committee and also pushed back on Kennedy\u2019s longstanding\u2014and disproven\u2014theory that childhood vaccines are linked to autism. He said that Kennedy \u201chas been insistent that he just wants good science and to ensure safety\u201d but that \u201cOn this topic, the science is good. The science is credible. Vaccines save lives. They are safe. They do not cause autism.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy promised he would not allow the Department of Health and Human Services to withdraw access to vaccinations without \u201cironclad, causational scientific evidence that can be accepted and defended before the mainstream scientific community and before Congress\u201d and that he would watch for \u201cany effort to wrongfully sow public fear about vaccines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span>10:27 a.m. EST, Feb. 4<\/span>The senators on the finance committee voted 14-13 to move Kennedy\u2019s nomination forward to a floor vote of all 100 senators.<\/p>\n<p><span>10:15 a.m. EST, Feb. 4<\/span>The ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, spoke against Kennedy&#8217;s nomination, citing his vaccine and stances, and saying he failed to show a &#8220;basic understanding&#8221; of Medicare and Medicaid programs.<\/p>\n<p><span>9:39 a.m. EST, Feb. 4<\/span>Trump made a last minute Truth Social post to support Kennedy, seeming to reference Kennedy\u2019s stance on vaccines and autism: \u201c20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000,\u201d Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/113946130240319294\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/113946130240319294\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/113946130240319294\" aria-label=\"posted\">posted<\/a>. \u201cNOW IT\u2019S 1 in 34. WOW! Something\u2019s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!!\u201d (The post didn\u2019t mention autism.)<\/p>\n<p>In reality, while it is true that autism diagnoses are on the rise\u2014the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/72\/ss\/ss7202a1.htm?s_cid=ss7202a1_e&#038;ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM101985&#038;ACSTrackingLabel=This%20Week%20in%20MMWR%20-%20Vol.%2072%2C%20March%2024%2C%202023&#038;deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM101985\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/72\/ss\/ss7202a1.htm?s_cid=ss7202a1_e&#038;ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM101985&#038;ACSTrackingLabel=This%20Week%20in%20MMWR%20-%20Vol.%2072%2C%20March%2024%2C%202023&#038;deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM101985\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/72\/ss\/ss7202a1.htm?s_cid=ss7202a1_e&#038;ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM101985&#038;ACSTrackingLabel=This%20Week%20in%20MMWR%20-%20Vol.%2072%2C%20March%2024%2C%202023&#038;deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM101985\" aria-label=\"says\">says<\/a> 1 in 36 children have been diagnosed, up significantly from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/autism\/data-research\/index.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/autism\/data-research\/index.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/autism\/data-research\/index.html\" aria-label=\"1 in 150\">1 in 150<\/a> in 2000\u2014dozens of studies have discredited the claim the increase is linked to vaccines, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/23\/health\/what-causes-autism.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/23\/health\/what-causes-autism.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/23\/health\/what-causes-autism.html\" aria-label=\"researchers have instead\">researchers have instead<\/a> said it could be attributed to increased awareness of the disorder, more babies born to older parents and risk factors like exposure to toxic chemicals and viral infections during pregnancy, among other factors. Also, the autism diagnosis rate has not been as low as one in 10,000, as cited by Trump, since the 1980s, according to the Iris Center at <a href=\"https:\/\/iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu\/module\/asd1\/cresource\/q1\/p01\/#:~:text=The%20current%20prevalence%20of%20ASD,%2C%20ethnic%2C%20and%20socioeconomic%20groups.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu\/module\/asd1\/cresource\/q1\/p01\/#:~:text=The%20current%20prevalence%20of%20ASD,%2C%20ethnic%2C%20and%20socioeconomic%20groups.\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu\/module\/asd1\/cresource\/q1\/p01\/#:~:text=The%20current%20prevalence%20of%20ASD,%2C%20ethnic%2C%20and%20socioeconomic%20groups.\" aria-label=\"Vanderbilt University\">Vanderbilt University<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 31<\/span>In written responses to questions from senators, Kennedy said he was in the process of amending his ethics pledge to divest his financial interest in a lawsuit against Merck over its HPV vaccine and instead would direct proceeds from the suit to one of his adult sons, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/31\/congress\/rfk-jr-to-revise-ethics-pledge-00201813\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/31\/congress\/rfk-jr-to-revise-ethics-pledge-00201813\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/01\/31\/congress\/rfk-jr-to-revise-ethics-pledge-00201813\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"00>Politico<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/31\/health\/rfk-jr-financial-stake-hpv-lawsuits-ethics-confirmation.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/31\/health\/rfk-jr-financial-stake-hpv-lawsuits-ethics-confirmation.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/31\/health\/rfk-jr-financial-stake-hpv-lawsuits-ethics-confirmation.html\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"11>Times<\/a> reported, after he faced scrutiny over the arrangement that allowed him to get 10% of fees awarded from cases he referred to the suit.<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 30<\/span>Kennedy testified in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2025\/01\/30\/nx-s1-5281452\/trump-cabinet-picks-rfk-confirmation-hearing-help-committee\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2025\/01\/30\/nx-s1-5281452\/trump-cabinet-picks-rfk-confirmation-hearing-help-committee\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2025\/01\/30\/nx-s1-5281452\/trump-cabinet-picks-rfk-confirmation-hearing-help-committee\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"22>tough questions<\/a> from Republican lawmaker Cassidy about his stances on vaccines.<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 29<\/span>Kennedy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/scoop-trump-health-secretary-nominee-rfk-jr-stress-confirmation-hearing-hes-not-anti-vaccine\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/scoop-trump-health-secretary-nominee-rfk-jr-stress-confirmation-hearing-hes-not-anti-vaccine\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/scoop-trump-health-secretary-nominee-rfk-jr-stress-confirmation-hearing-hes-not-anti-vaccine\/\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"33>told senators<\/a> in his opening statement before the Senate Finance Committee that he is not \u201canti-vaccine or anti-industry,\u201d but is instead \u201cpro-safety.\u201d (Read more on his contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/alexknapp\/2025\/01\/29\/live-updates-robert-f-kennedy-jr-faces-senate-confirmation-hearings\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/alexknapp\/2025\/01\/29\/live-updates-robert-f-kennedy-jr-faces-senate-confirmation-hearings\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/alexknapp\/2025\/01\/29\/live-updates-robert-f-kennedy-jr-faces-senate-confirmation-hearings\/\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"44>here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 29<\/span>Kennedy\u2019s former running mate, Nicole Shanahan, threatened to fund primary challenges against any senators who vote against his nomination in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NicoleShanahan\/status\/1884402807312158781\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NicoleShanahan\/status\/1884402807312158781\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/x.com\/NicoleShanahan\/status\/1884402807312158781\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"55>video on X<\/a>, telling them \u201cwhile Bobby may play nice, I won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 28<\/span>Journalist Ryan D\u2019Agostino claimed in a piece <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esquire.com\/news-politics\/a63559859\/rfk-jr-cancer-anti-vaccine\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.esquire.com\/news-politics\/a63559859\/rfk-jr-cancer-anti-vaccine\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.esquire.com\/news-politics\/a63559859\/rfk-jr-cancer-anti-vaccine\/\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"66>published in Esquire<\/a> that Kennedy suggested to him in 2020 that his 6-year-old son\u2019s leukemia might have been attributed to the polio and measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 28<\/span>Kennedy\u2019s niece, Kerry Kennedy, who worked as a doctor in a New York City intensive care unit during the Covid-19 pandemic, released emails from 2022 between her and her uncle to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2025\/01\/28\/kennedy-confirmation-hearing-niece-releases-emails-vaccine-criticism-conspiracy-theories\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2025\/01\/28\/kennedy-confirmation-hearing-niece-releases-emails-vaccine-criticism-conspiracy-theories\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.statnews.com\/2025\/01\/28\/kennedy-confirmation-hearing-niece-releases-emails-vaccine-criticism-conspiracy-theories\/\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"77>STAT News<\/a> in which Kennedy claimed \u201cthe CDC has been using corrupt metrics to assess who is vaccinated\u201d to shield what he claimed were \u201cdramatically increased cases and mortalities in the two weeks following the first shot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 28<\/span>Caroline Kennedy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2025\/01\/28\/kennedy-lettor-rfk\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2025\/01\/28\/kennedy-lettor-rfk\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2025\/01\/28\/kennedy-lettor-rfk\/\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"88>called<\/a> her cousin a &#8220;predator&#8221; who has preyed on the parents of sick children, said his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/22\/us\/politics\/rfk-hpv-vaccine-merck.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/22\/us\/politics\/rfk-hpv-vaccine-merck.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/22\/us\/politics\/rfk-hpv-vaccine-merck.html\" aria-label=\"earlier said\"99>financial stake<\/a> in litigation against a manufacturer of the HPV vaccine poses a conflict of interest and detailed behavior of Kennedy&#8217;s youth that included &#8220;showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in the blender to feed his hawks,&#8221; calling his college dorm room and other places, &#8220;often a perverse scene of despair and violence.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 28<\/span>Advancing American Freedom, a conservative group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, called released a <a href=\"https:\/\/advancingamericanfreedom.com\/aafs-ad-push-on-rfk-jr\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/advancingamericanfreedom.com\/aafs-ad-push-on-rfk-jr\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/advancingamericanfreedom.com\/aafs-ad-push-on-rfk-jr\/\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"00>57-second advertisement<\/a> a day before Kennedy\u2019s hearing begins, compiling Trump\u2019s past criticisms of his pick, including the now-president calling Kennedy \u201ca radical left plant,\u201d an \u201cextreme liberal\u201d and saying \u201cdon\u2019t think you\u2019re going to vote for him and feel good &#8230; I\u2019d even take [Joe] Biden over Junior.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 27<\/span>The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/rep\/newsroom\/press\/this-week-senate-help-committee-to-hold-hearing-on-nomination-for-hhs-secretary\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/rep\/newsroom\/press\/this-week-senate-help-committee-to-hold-hearing-on-nomination-for-hhs-secretary\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/rep\/newsroom\/press\/this-week-senate-help-committee-to-hold-hearing-on-nomination-for-hhs-secretary\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"11>announced<\/a> Kennedy would testify before it in a hearing on Thursday, Jan. 30.<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 22<\/span>Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.finance.senate.gov\/ranking-members-news\/crapo-announces-hhs-secretary-nomination-hearing\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.finance.senate.gov\/ranking-members-news\/crapo-announces-hhs-secretary-nomination-hearing\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.finance.senate.gov\/ranking-members-news\/crapo-announces-hhs-secretary-nomination-hearing\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"22>announced<\/a> Kennedy would go before the committee for his hearing on Jan. 29.<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 22<\/span>In an <a href=\"https:\/\/extapps2.oge.gov\/201\/Presiden.nsf\/PAS+Index\/F3C8425ED335BB5685258C1A00565D57\/$FILE\/Kennedy%2C%20Jr.%2C%20Robert%20F.%20%20finalEA.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/extapps2.oge.gov\/201\/Presiden.nsf\/PAS+Index\/F3C8425ED335BB5685258C1A00565D57\/$FILE\/Kennedy%2C%20Jr.%2C%20Robert%20F.%20%20finalEA.pdf\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/extapps2.oge.gov\/201\/Presiden.nsf\/PAS+Index\/F3C8425ED335BB5685258C1A00565D57\/$FILE\/Kennedy%2C%20Jr.%2C%20Robert%20F.%20%20finalEA.pdf\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"33>ethics form<\/a> submitted by Kennedy and made public Wednesday, he said he would continue to receive fees related to cases he referred to the law firm Wisner Baum\u2014which is suing Merck over the vaccine that protects against the human papillomavirus, or HPV\u2014that do not involve the U.S. and \u201cin which the United States does not have a direct and substantial interest,\u201d The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/22\/us\/politics\/rfk-hpv-vaccine-merck.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/22\/us\/politics\/rfk-hpv-vaccine-merck.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/22\/us\/politics\/rfk-hpv-vaccine-merck.html\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"44>New York Times<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<p><span>Jan. 22<\/span>Pence\u2019s group, which is opposing Kennedy in part because of his past views on abortion, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AmericanFreedom\/status\/1882105775268429929\/photo\/1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AmericanFreedom\/status\/1882105775268429929\/photo\/1\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/x.com\/AmericanFreedom\/status\/1882105775268429929\/photo\/1\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"55>announced<\/a> it\u2019s launching a six-figure ad campaign to oppose his confirmation.<\/p>\n<p>The group believes there is \u201clittle reason for confidence\u201d that Kennedy will \u201chave a firm commitment to protect unborn children,\u201d Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman and Board Chairman wrote in a recent letter to senators, echoing a previous statement from Pence, who is staunchly anti-abortion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong><em>Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts:<\/em><\/strong><em> We\u2019re launching text message alerts so you&#8217;ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day\u2019s headlines. Text \u201cAlerts\u201d to <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/tel:2013350739\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/tel:2013350739\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/tel:2013350739\/\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"66><em data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/tel:2013350739\/\">(201) 335-0739<\/em><\/a><em> or sign up <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/joinsubtext.com\/forbes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/joinsubtext.com\/forbes\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/joinsubtext.com\/forbes\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"77><em data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/joinsubtext.com\/forbes\">here<\/em><\/a><em>: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/joinsubtext.com\/forbes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/joinsubtext.com\/forbes\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/joinsubtext.com\/forbes\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"88><em data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/joinsubtext.com\/forbes\">joinsubtext.com\/forbes.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<figure role=\"presentation\"><figcaption><fbs-accordion current=\"-1\"><\/p>\n<p role=\"button\">Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump shake hands during a campaign rally at Desert <span data-ga-track=\"caption expand\">&#8230; [+]<\/span><span> Diamond Arena on Aug. 23, 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/fbs-accordion><small>Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Will Rfk Jr. Get Confirmed?<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s looking likely, now that Collins has committed to backing him. Kennedy, like any of Trump\u2019s nominees, can afford to lose only three Republican votes on the Senate floor assuming all Democrats vote against him, but with Collins\u2019 support there are now only two Republicans who have not committed: Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Rfk Jr.\u2019s Background?<\/h2>\n<p>The son of late Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Kennedy is a longtime environmental lawyer and activist. He formally entered the presidential race in April 2023 as a Democratic candidate challenging Biden for the party\u2019s nomination, before switching to run as an independent in October that year. He dropped out of the race in August and endorsed Trump. Both suggested in subsequent months that Kennedy would be offered a job in the Trump administration, and Trump nominated him to lead HHS in November. Prior to Kennedy\u2019s entrance into the presidential race, he was a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement, including during the Covid-19 pandemic. He is also married to actress Cheryl Hines.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Rfk Jr.\u2019s Stance On Abortion?<\/h2>\n<p>Kennedy supports \u201cthe principles laid out in Roe v. Wade,\u201d according to his campaign <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mahanow.org\/position-on-abortion-faq\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.mahanow.org\/position-on-abortion-faq\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.mahanow.org\/position-on-abortion-faq\" aria-label=\"Kalshi\"99>website<\/a>, which quotes him saying \u201cabortion is a tragedy, but I don\u2019t trust the government to make these decisions for Americans.\u201d He said in 2023 he supports a 15-week abortion ban, but later retracted the statement. In December, Kennedy met with Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HawleyMO\/status\/1869135780607869235\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HawleyMO\/status\/1869135780607869235\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/x.com\/HawleyMO\/status\/1869135780607869235\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"00>Hawley said<\/a> Kennedy assured him he would \u201creinstate President Trump\u2019s prolife policies at HHS.\u201d Hawley also said Kennedy told him \u201che believes there are far too many abortions in the US and that we cannot be the moral leader of the free world with abortion rates so high.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Does Health And Human Services Oversee Abortion?<\/h2>\n<p>As the top federal health agency, HHS could have some role in abortion regulation\u2014even if the legality of abortion is largely determined at the state level since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. For example, under Biden, HHS <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/abortion-emergency-room-law-biden-supreme-court-1564fa3f72268114e65f78848c47402b\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/abortion-emergency-room-law-biden-supreme-court-1564fa3f72268114e65f78848c47402b\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/abortion-emergency-room-law-biden-supreme-court-1564fa3f72268114e65f78848c47402b\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"11>told hospitals<\/a> they are required under federal law to provide abortions in emergency situations, even if abortion is illegal in the hospital\u2019s home state. The agency <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/hipaa\/for-professionals\/special-topics\/reproductive-health\/index.html#:~:text=Final%20Rule%20HIPAA%20Privacy%20Rule,for%20high%2Dquality%20health%20care.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/hipaa\/for-professionals\/special-topics\/reproductive-health\/index.html#:~:text=Final%20Rule%20HIPAA%20Privacy%20Rule,for%20high%2Dquality%20health%20care.\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/hipaa\/for-professionals\/special-topics\/reproductive-health\/index.html#:~:text=Final%20Rule%20HIPAA%20Privacy%20Rule,for%20high%2Dquality%20health%20care.\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"22>also issued a rule<\/a> under Biden barring the \u201cdisclosure of protected health information related to lawful reproductive health care,\u201d aiming to protect women who cross state lines to access abortion care. Some conservative groups have <a href=\"https:\/\/static.project2025.org\/2025_MandateForLeadership_CHAPTER-14.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/static.project2025.org\/2025_MandateForLeadership_CHAPTER-14.pdf\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/static.project2025.org\/2025_MandateForLeadership_CHAPTER-14.pdf\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"33>pushed HHS<\/a> to undo the Biden-era hospital rules and enforce restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Is Rfk Jr. Controversial Due To A Measles Outbreak In Samoa?<\/h2>\n<p>A 2019 trip Kennedy took to the country of Samoa has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/11\/25\/opinion\/rfk-jr-vaccines-samoa-measles.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/11\/25\/opinion\/rfk-jr-vaccines-samoa-measles.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/11\/25\/opinion\/rfk-jr-vaccines-samoa-measles.html\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"44>linked<\/a> by some experts to an outbreak in measles that sickened more than 5,700 people and killed 83 in the span of three and a half months. Months before the measles outbreak was declared, Kennedy visited the country to meet with government officials and participated in what Alec Ekeroma, Samoa\u2019s director general of health, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2024\/nov\/26\/rfk-jr-samoa-visit-measles-outbreak-vaccines\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2024\/nov\/26\/rfk-jr-samoa-visit-measles-outbreak-vaccines\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2024\/nov\/26\/rfk-jr-samoa-visit-measles-outbreak-vaccines\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"55>told the Guardian<\/a> was a \u201csignificant disinformation campaign\u201d about vaccines. While Samoa\u2019s vaccination rate had been dropping before Kennedy\u2019s visit, Brian Deer, author of \u201cThe Doctor Who Fooled the World,\u201d said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/11\/25\/opinion\/rfk-jr-vaccines-samoa-measles.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/11\/25\/opinion\/rfk-jr-vaccines-samoa-measles.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/11\/25\/opinion\/rfk-jr-vaccines-samoa-measles.html\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"66>New York Times op-ed<\/a> that vaccination fears were largely sparked by a documentary made three years earlier by friends of Kennedy.<\/p>\n<h2>What Are Rfk Jr.\u2019s Views On Vaccines?<\/h2>\n<p>Kennedy has a long history of promoting conspiracies about childhood vaccines, including the theory that the preservative thimerosal\u2014which has been phased out of most modern vaccine formulas\u2014is linked to autism, a claim that\u2019s been thoroughly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/23\/health\/what-causes-autism.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/23\/health\/what-causes-autism.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/23\/health\/what-causes-autism.html\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"77>discredited<\/a> by medical studies. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/388-robert-f-kennedy-jr-cia-power-corruption-war-freedom\/id1434243584?i=1000619617790\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/388-robert-f-kennedy-jr-cia-power-corruption-war-freedom\/id1434243584?i=1000619617790\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/388-robert-f-kennedy-jr-cia-power-corruption-war-freedom\/id1434243584?i=1000619617790\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"88>podcast<\/a> last year with Lex Fridman, Kennedy said \u201cthere\u2019s no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective.\u201d He walked back the statement in a subsequent interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/12\/15\/politics\/robert-kennedy-covid-vaccine-antisemitism\/index.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/12\/15\/politics\/robert-kennedy-covid-vaccine-antisemitism\/index.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/12\/15\/politics\/robert-kennedy-covid-vaccine-antisemitism\/index.html\" aria-label=\"Polymarket\"99>CNN<\/a>, calling it a \u201cbad use of words\u201d and has <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BrandyZadrozny\/status\/1682045997432668160\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BrandyZadrozny\/status\/1682045997432668160\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/x.com\/BrandyZadrozny\/status\/1682045997432668160\" aria-label=\"said\"00>often denied<\/a> that he\u2019s anti-vaccine. He gained notoriety during the Covid-19 pandemic for fueling conspiracies about the vaccines. He suggested they were related to a \u201cwave of suspicious deaths,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/17\/health\/rfk-jr-covid-vaccines.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/17\/health\/rfk-jr-covid-vaccines.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/17\/health\/rfk-jr-covid-vaccines.html\" aria-label=\"said\"11>The New York Times<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/house.louisiana.gov\/H_Video\/VideoArchivePlayer?v=house\/2021\/dec\/1206_21_HW\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/house.louisiana.gov\/H_Video\/VideoArchivePlayer?v=house\/2021\/dec\/1206_21_HW\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/house.louisiana.gov\/H_Video\/VideoArchivePlayer?v=house\/2021\/dec\/1206_21_HW\" aria-label=\"said\"22>told<\/a> Louisiana lawmakers it was the \u201cdeadliest vaccine ever made.\u201d Medical authorities have said the vaccines do not increase the risk of death from non-Covid causes, and are a safe and effective means of preventing the virus, with serious side-effects <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/05\/03\/health\/covid-vaccine-side-effects-takeaways.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/05\/03\/health\/covid-vaccine-side-effects-takeaways.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/05\/03\/health\/covid-vaccine-side-effects-takeaways.html\" aria-label=\"said\"33>extremely rare<\/a>. Kennedy was the top \u201csuperspreader\u201d of misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine on Twitter, accounting for 13% of daily retweets of low-credibility information, according to a study in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jmir.org\/2023\/1\/e42227\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.jmir.org\/2023\/1\/e42227\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.jmir.org\/2023\/1\/e42227\" aria-label=\"said\"44>Journal of Medical Internet Research<\/a>. His Children\u2019s Health Defense nonprofit filed multiple legal actions against pandemic-related public health directives and vaccine mandates, including a petition in 2021 asking the Food and Drug Administration to revoke authorization of the vaccine, The New York Times <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/17\/health\/rfk-jr-covid-vaccines.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/17\/health\/rfk-jr-covid-vaccines.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/17\/health\/rfk-jr-covid-vaccines.html\" aria-label=\"said\"55>reported<\/a>. In the petition, the group advocated for other treatments instead of vaccines, including ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, despite them having already been deemed ineffective.<\/p>\n<h2>What Else Has Kennedy Said About The Covid-19 Pandemic?<\/h2>\n<p>In his 2021 book, \u201cThe Real Anthony Fauci,\u201d he accused the former National Institutes of Health chief of working with Bill Gates to wage a &#8220;a historic coup d&#8217;\u00e9tat against Western democracy\u201d by exaggerating the effects of the pandemic to control the media and public health sphere. He also falsely claimed at a July 2023 dinner party that \u201cCovid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people\u201d and \u201cthe people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese,\u201d according to video footage of the remarks published by the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/07\/15\/rfk-jr-says-covid-was-ethnically-targeted-to-spare-jews\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/07\/15\/rfk-jr-says-covid-was-ethnically-targeted-to-spare-jews\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/07\/15\/rfk-jr-says-covid-was-ethnically-targeted-to-spare-jews\/\" aria-label=\"said\"66>New York Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What Other Health-Related Conspiracies Has Rfk Jr. Promoted?<\/h2>\n<p>He\u2019s suggested wireless technology contributes to cancer, alleging WiFi \u201cradiation\u201d causes what he referred to as \u201ccellphone tumors\u201d and \u201copens your blood brain barrier\u201d to toxins in a June 2024 interview with Joe Rogan. He\u2019s implied that HIV might not cause AIDS, and he\u2019s insinuated a link between school and a rise in the use of antidepressant drugs. There is no credible medical evidence to support the theories.<\/p>\n<h2>What Are Rfk Jr.\u2019s Plans For Health And Human Services?<\/h2>\n<p>Kennedy has promised that he would allow people to make their own assessments of whether they want to receive vaccines, telling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2024-election\/trump-win-rfk-jr-says-wont-take-away-anybodys-vaccines-rcna178955\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2024-election\/trump-win-rfk-jr-says-wont-take-away-anybodys-vaccines-rcna178955\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2024-election\/trump-win-rfk-jr-says-wont-take-away-anybodys-vaccines-rcna178955\" aria-label=\"said\"77>NBC News<\/a> in November \u201cif vaccines are working for somebody, I\u2019m not going to take them away\u201d and explaining that their choices \u201cought to be informed by the best information.\u201d In the interview, he promised to \u201cend the chronic disease epidemic,\u201d including by assessing food ingredients. He vowed to eliminate \u201centire departments\u201d he believes have been ineffective, including nutrition departments at the Food and Drug Administration. Addressing his views on fluoride in water, he said he would warn water districts about their \u201clegal liability&#8221; to deliver safe drinking water.<\/p>\n<h2>What Are The Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Rfk Jr.?<\/h2>\n<p>A former live-in nanny for the Kennedy family, Eliza Cooney, told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2024\/11\/20\/rfk-jr-sexual-assault-allegation-eliza-cooney\/76450231007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2024\/11\/20\/rfk-jr-sexual-assault-allegation-eliza-cooney\/76450231007\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2024\/11\/20\/rfk-jr-sexual-assault-allegation-eliza-cooney\/76450231007\/\" aria-label=\"said\"88>multiple<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vanityfair.com\/news\/story\/robert-kennedy-jr-shocking-history\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.vanityfair.com\/news\/story\/robert-kennedy-jr-shocking-history\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.vanityfair.com\/news\/story\/robert-kennedy-jr-shocking-history\" aria-label=\"said\"99>outlets<\/a> last year he groped her and made repeated sexual advances while she was working for him in the 1990s. Kennedy texted her an apology when the story broke, writing, \u201cI have no memory of this incident but I apologize sincerely for anything I ever did that made you feel uncomfortable or anything I did or said that offended you or hurt your feelings,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/top-stories\/latest\/robert-kennedy-apology-sexual-assault-text-rfk-jr-rcna161708\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/top-stories\/latest\/robert-kennedy-apology-sexual-assault-text-rfk-jr-rcna161708\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.msnbc.com\/top-stories\/latest\/robert-kennedy-apology-sexual-assault-text-rfk-jr-rcna161708\" aria-label=\"posted\"00>NBC<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/07\/12\/rfk-sexual-assault-apology-eliza-cooney\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/07\/12\/rfk-sexual-assault-apology-eliza-cooney\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/07\/12\/rfk-sexual-assault-apology-eliza-cooney\/\" aria-label=\"posted\"11>The Washington Post<\/a>, which reviewed the text messages. When asked about a Vanity Fair story that revealed the allegation, he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/siladityaray\/2024\/07\/03\/rfk-jr-calls-report-alleging-he-sexually-assaulted-his-childrens-nanny-and-ate-a-dog-a-lot-of-garbage\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/siladityaray\/2024\/07\/03\/rfk-jr-calls-report-alleging-he-sexually-assaulted-his-childrens-nanny-and-ate-a-dog-a-lot-of-garbage\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/siladityaray\/2024\/07\/03\/rfk-jr-calls-report-alleging-he-sexually-assaulted-his-childrens-nanny-and-ate-a-dog-a-lot-of-garbage\/\" aria-label=\"posted\"22>called the article<\/a> a \u201clot of garbage,\u201d but didn\u2019t address Cooney\u2019s allegation.<\/p>\n<h2>Do Any Democratic Senators Support Rfk Jr.?<\/h2>\n<p>None have said definitively they\u2019ll vote for him, though Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., hasn\u2019t ruled out the prospect. Sanders told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/bernie-sanders-rfk-health-human-services\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/bernie-sanders-rfk-health-human-services\/\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/bernie-sanders-rfk-health-human-services\/\" aria-label=\"posted\"33>CBS<\/a> in December he hadn\u2019t decided how he\u2019ll vote, calling Kennedy\u2019s stance that fluoride should be removed from water \u201cextremely dangerous\u201d and his views on vaccines \u201cvery wrong,\u201d but telling the network his criticism of food ingredients is \u201cexactly correct.\u201d Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is also considered a swing vote on all of Trump\u2019s nominations, as he\u2019s urged his party to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2024-election\/john-fetterman-says-democrats-need-stop-freaking-everything-trump-rcna180270\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2024-election\/john-fetterman-says-democrats-need-stop-freaking-everything-trump-rcna180270\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2024-election\/john-fetterman-says-democrats-need-stop-freaking-everything-trump-rcna180270\" aria-label=\"posted\"44>stop \u201cfreaking out\u201d<\/a> over every controversial move Trump makes.<\/p>\n<h2>Have Any Republican Senators Come Out Against Rfk Jr.?<\/h2>\n<p>No. While some, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/rfk-jr-wrong-about-vaccinations-gop-senator-says\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/rfk-jr-wrong-about-vaccinations-gop-senator-says\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/rfk-jr-wrong-about-vaccinations-gop-senator-says\" aria-label=\"posted\"55>Cassidy<\/a> and Murkowski, expressed some tempered skepticism about his initial nomination, he has reportedly retooled his anti-vaccine image in meetings with senators. \u201cHe told me he is not anti-vaccine. He is pro-vaccine safety, which strikes me as a rational position to take,\u201d Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/01\/22\/rfk-anti-vaxxer-trump-00199771\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/01\/22\/rfk-anti-vaxxer-trump-00199771\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/01\/22\/rfk-anti-vaxxer-trump-00199771\" aria-label=\"posted\"66>Politico<\/a>. While on Capitol Hill last month, Kennedy told reporters he is \u201call for the polio vaccine,\u201d despite saying in recent years the first polio vaccine might have caused cancers \u201cthat killed many, many, many, many, many more people than polio ever did,\u201d and disputing the fact that the vaccine reduced polio cases, The New York Times <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/17\/health\/robert-f-kennedy-jr-polio-vaccines.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/17\/health\/robert-f-kennedy-jr-polio-vaccines.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/17\/health\/robert-f-kennedy-jr-polio-vaccines.html\" aria-label=\"posted\"77>reported<\/a>. McConnell, a polio survivor, issued a statement in defense of the polio vaccine when the Times <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/13\/health\/aaron-siri-rfk-jr-vaccines.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/13\/health\/aaron-siri-rfk-jr-vaccines.html\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/12\/13\/health\/aaron-siri-rfk-jr-vaccines.html\" aria-label=\"posted\"88>reported<\/a> in December that a Kennedy confidant helping him make HHS hiring decisions, lawyer Aaron Siri, petitioned the government to revoke the polio vaccine. \u201cEfforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed \u2014 they\u2019re dangerous,\u201d McConnell said. \u201cAnyone seeking the Senate\u2019s consent to serve in the incoming administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts.\u201d Neither McConnell nor Cassidy, a physician who told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/rfk-jr-wrong-about-vaccinations-gop-senator-says\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/rfk-jr-wrong-about-vaccinations-gop-senator-says\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/rfk-jr-wrong-about-vaccinations-gop-senator-says\" aria-label=\"posted\"99>Fox News<\/a> earlier this month Kennedy is \u201cwrong\u201d about vaccines, have said publicly how they plan to vote. Murkowski also told Politico she was undecided after meeting with Kennedy on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n<h2>What Does Trump Say About Rfk Jr.?<\/h2>\n<p>In announcing Kennedy\u2019s nomination, Trump said \u201cHHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.\u201d In October, Trump said he would let Kennedy \u201cgo wild on health . . . food\u201d and \u201cmedicines.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Further Reading<strong> <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/saradorn\/2024\/11\/15\/rfk-jrs-conspiracy-theories-heres-what-trumps-pick-for-health-secretary-has-promoted\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/saradorn\/2024\/11\/15\/rfk-jrs-conspiracy-theories-heres-what-trumps-pick-for-health-secretary-has-promoted\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/saradorn\/2024\/11\/15\/rfk-jrs-conspiracy-theories-heres-what-trumps-pick-for-health-secretary-has-promoted\/\" aria-label=\"says\"00>RFK Jr.\u2019s Conspiracy Theories: Here\u2019s What Trump\u2019s Pick For Health Secretary Has Promoted <\/a>(Forbes)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/maryroeloffs\/2024\/12\/10\/rfk-jr-cabinet-nomination-dozens-of-nobel-winners-urge-senate-to-reject-trumps-hhs-pick\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/maryroeloffs\/2024\/12\/10\/rfk-jr-cabinet-nomination-dozens-of-nobel-winners-urge-senate-to-reject-trumps-hhs-pick\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/maryroeloffs\/2024\/12\/10\/rfk-jr-cabinet-nomination-dozens-of-nobel-winners-urge-senate-to-reject-trumps-hhs-pick\/\" aria-label=\"says\"11>RFK Jr. Cabinet Nomination: Dozens Of Nobel Winners Urge Senate To Reject Trump\u2019s HHS Pick<\/a> (Forbes)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/saradorn\/2023\/10\/09\/rfk-jr-launches-independent-presidential-bid\/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/saradorn\/2023\/10\/09\/rfk-jr-launches-independent-presidential-bid\/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/saradorn\/2023\/10\/09\/rfk-jr-launches-independent-presidential-bid\/\" aria-label=\"says\"22>RFK Jr. Launches Independent Presidential Bid\u2014Challenging Biden And Trump<\/a> (Forbes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/saradorn\/2025\/02\/13\/rfk-jrs-health-secretary-confirmation-live-updates-senate-confirms-trumps-pick-mcconnell-votes-no\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Topline The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary Thursday, with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., representing the lone GOP \u201cno\u201d vote\u2014greenlighting one of Trump\u2019s most controversial nominees after Kennedy won over some skeptical senators wary of his vaccine views. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee to be Secretary of Health and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":833013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22721,802],"tags":[8477,6439],"class_list":{"0":"post-833012","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-senate","8":"category-updates","9":"tag-senate","10":"tag-updates"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=833012"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833012\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/833013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=833012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=833012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=833012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}