Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Plans to Continue Earning from Vaccine Litigation Amid HHS Secretary Nomination
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS Secretary nominee, aims to maintain financial ties to litigation against Merck despite potential conflicts of interest.
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Get StartedKennedy's continued financial involvement in litigation against Merck raises significant ethical concerns that cannot simply be swept under the rug, highlighting a potential conflict of interest that may undermine public trust in his role as a regulator of drugmakers.
RFK Jr. plans to keep a financial stake in lawsuits against the drugmaker Merck
NPR·3M
·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s attempt to distance himself from his anti-vaccine past while seeking a prominent position in the Trump administration reflects a calculated pivot, yet his ongoing financial ties to the movement suggest he remains deeply intertwined with its controversial legacy.
RFK Jr. says he's resigned from anti-vaccine nonprofit as he seeks nation's top health official job
Associated Press·3M
·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s entanglement with a law firm suing Merck and his commitments to divest from certain investments raises significant ethical concerns as he seeks to lead the HHS.
RFK Jr. releases financial disclosure
The Hill·3M
·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to continue earning fees from a law firm that is suing a major pharmaceutical company raises serious ethical questions about his ability to serve as HHS Secretary without conflicts of interest.
RFK Jr. Financial Disclosure Shows Contingent Law Firm Fees
Newsmax·3M
·Mixed ReliableThis source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.RightThis outlet favors right-wing views.Kennedy's financial disclosures reveal a potential web of conflicts of interest that could overshadow his nomination and raise questions about his commitment to public health over profit.
RFK Jr. earned millions from law work, book deals
Axios·3M
·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
Summary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated as HHS Secretary by President Trump, seeks to continue collecting fees from Wisner Baum, a law firm suing Merck over the Gardasil vaccine. This decision raises ethics concerns due to his ongoing financial interest in vaccine-related lawsuits while regulating the pharmaceutical industry, prompting scrutiny in his upcoming Senate confirmation hearing. Kennedy disclosed significant earnings, including $856,559 from the law firm, and plans to divest from other investments, but intends to keep a role in non-U.S. related cases.
Perspectives
This story is either non-partisan or does not have the required sources to create partisan perspectives.
History
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