Sevan Sinton
News Editor
Former presidential candidate and Trump appointee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a two-day bombardment of questioning from senate leaders in pursuit of his confirmation to become Head of the Department of Health and Human Services; a nomination he received from President Donald Trump in November.
Kennedy fended off questions from the Senate’s Finance and Health Committees, who lunged at Kennedy’s previous comments regarding topics such as vaccines, abortion, and government corruption.
“I want to make sure the Committee is clear about a few things. News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry. Well, I am neither; I am pro-safety,” read Kennedy’s testimony. “All of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in healthcare.”
Despite Kennedy’s testimony, in a 2023 interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters Kennedy explicitly stated, “I do believe that autism comes from vaccines . . . you know, all I have said about vaccines, we should have good science.”
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) pushed on the topic, quoting the aforementioned interview and saying, “You talk about the need to be science-based . . . what studies have you utilized to come to the conclusion that vaccines cause autism?”
“I wouldn’t rest on a single study, all studies can be used in different methodologies,” Kennedy responded.
“I have asked to put into the record 16 studies, done by scientists and doctors all over the world, saying that vaccines do not cause autism,” stated Sanders while showing the paper to Kennedy. “Are you happy now?”
Kennedy’s inconsistencies also arose in questions regarding his stance on abortion, where Sanders grilled Kennedy on his “flip” on the issue of abortion, “A year and a half ago you went to New Hampshire . . . you talked about [the] government should not tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her own body,” recounted Sanders. “I have never seen any major political flip on that issue quite as quickly as you did when Trump asked you to become HHS secretary.”
On the issue of healthcare, Sanders asked Kennedy if he will “fight to do what every other major country does” and support universal healthcare for all.
“I will make America healthier than other countries in the world right now,” Kennedy shot back.
“It’s a simple question, Bobby,” responded Sanders, pawing at Kennedy’s vague answer.
“And by the way, Bernie, the problem of corruption is not just in the federal agency, it’s in Congress too. Almost all the members of the board are accepting money, including yourself, millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry,” added Kennedy, which drew applause and cheers from the crowd.
“I ran for president, like you. I got millions and millions of contributions,” said Sanders amid the applause. “They did not come from the executives, not one nickel of PAC money from the pharmaceutical industry, they came from workers.”
According to Sanders’ career campaign finance summary, out of $12,000,000 from “Health Professionals,” only $99,554 came from PACs.
The committee is scheduled to vote on Kennedy’s confirmation on Tuesday, Feb. 4.