Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough questions in his first confirmation hearing as the nominee for U.S. secretary of health and human services. Democratic senators challenged his views on contentious issues such as vaccines and abortion — where he had to defend himself against his own statements.
RFK Jr., as he is also known, is a controversial figure, making his confirmation hearing one of the most anticipated. In the lead-up to the hearings, different groups sent out letters opposing his nomination — including his cousin Caroline Kennedy who urged senators to reject his nomination. Others expressed support for him to secure the position.
Much of the pushback on Kennedy Jr. is due to his claims that fuel conspiracy theories and misinformation — from linking vaccines to autism to casting doubts on the long-established fact that HIV causes AIDS — and fears that his beliefs would trickle down to the department he is nominated to lead.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
