Washington — The Senate Finance Committee is contemplating Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination on Tuesday, with a key vote on whether or not to advance his affirmation to guide the Division of Well being and Human Companies after a pair of fiery hearings final week.
Kennedy appeared Wednesday earlier than the finance committee for a affirmation listening to, earlier than testifying to the Senate Committee on Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions the next day. Throughout each appearances, Democrats on the committees — and even some Republicans — grilled the longtime environmental lawyer and activist on his stances on vaccines, abortion, and different points.
President Trump’s decide for HHS secretary has confronted scrutiny from each side. Although Kennedy, 71, initially sought the Democratic presidential nomination and has shut ties to the social gathering because the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the son of Robert F. Kennedy, he dropped out of the presidential race to endorse Mr. Trump in August, and has lengthy been the recipient of the Democratic institution’s ire.
Although the majority of Republicans on the committee are anticipated to assist advancing Kennedy’s nomination, a lot consideration has been paid to Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and medical physician who has expressed concern over the president’s decide for HHS secretary.
Cassidy stated final week that he is been “struggling” with Kennedy’s nomination as a result of considerations that he could undermine religion in vaccines, and famous that Kennedy would possibly hear from him over the weekend. The 2 males spoke on Sunday, in accordance with an individual acquainted with their dialog.
Nathan Posner/Anadolu through Getty Photographs
With out assist from Democrats on the committee, which has a one-member GOP benefit, Cassidy’s opposition may tank a positive suggestion for Kennedy to the complete Senate.
Amid the pushback, some had seemed to potential assist from Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont impartial. However Sanders stated on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” Sunday that he was “not significantly completely happy” with Kennedy’s presentation earlier than the Senate committees final week, although he wouldn’t say how he plans to vote.
In the meantime, two Democrats on the committee, Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the rating member, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, raised alarm about potential conflicts of curiosity in latest days, penning a letter to Kennedy regarding his potential to revenue from vaccine-related litigation. Paired along with his long-held stances on vaccine security, the senators stated the potential conflicts give them “grave concern” about his capacity to function HHS secretary.
Kennedy has earned referral charges from a Los Angeles private damage regulation agency, Wisner Baum, for years. The agency is at the moment suing Merck regarding warnings concerning the security of the HPV vaccine. Kennedy agreed to divest his pursuits within the instances he has referred to Wisner Baum to a “non-dependent, grownup member of the family.” The senators famous of their letter that Kennedy in his written response to committee questions indicated he was divesting the curiosity to one in every of his grownup sons — a element which they known as “troubling.”
“The association outlined in your Ethics Settlement Modification is plainly insufficient, as it will seem to permit a right away member of the family to learn financially out of your place as Secretary,” the senators wrote, including that “vaccine-related choices” that Kennedy may make as HHS secretary “may end in important monetary compensation for your loved ones.”
The Democrats additionally requested Kennedy to commit in writing to recuse himself from all vaccine-related communications and choices and pledge to not litigate instances involving vaccines or have a monetary curiosity within the instances for a minimum of 4 years after leaving workplace. Kennedy stated throughout Wednesday’s listening to that he would “adjust to all the moral tips.”
Ought to Kennedy’s nomination advance to the Senate flooring, Republicans can afford to lose simply three votes to substantiate him with out assist from throughout the aisle, with Vice President J.D. Vance serving as a tie-breaker.
The developments come as Senate Republicans have pushed to shortly verify Mr. Trump’s nominees to his Cupboard and high administration posts, with appointees like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy crusing to affirmation, whereas Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth eked by with a 51-50 vote on his affirmation.
The president decried pushback from Democrats concerning his nominees in a put up on Fact Social Sunday, saying “irrespective of how good and effectively certified somebody is, they’re taking most time for approval — and laughing about it.”
“Republicans should GET TOUGH — AND MUST GET TOUGH VERY FAST,” Trump stated. “We want our Nominees NOW, for the Security and Good of our Nation!”
