Wall Street Journal labels RFK Jr. 'dangerous to public health' ahead of hearings

The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal is coming out in opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

"Senate Republicans have an obligation to scrutinize his giant closet of business conflicts and dubious ideas," the Journal wrote in an editorial published Sunday ahead of Kennedy's hearings with the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Thursday.

The newspaper's op-ed board said it expects Kennedy to "obfuscate about his ties to trial lawyers, anti-vaccine views, and support for sundry progressive causes," while also "presenting himself as a truth-teller and slayer of government corruption, [even though] he’s as slippery as Anthony Fauci."

"Most troubling is his long record of anti-vaccine advocacy," the Journal wrote, noting the former presidential candidate has "tried to soften his vaccine skepticism since being nominated, and he now says he won’t take away anyone’s vaccines."

The Rupert Murdoch-owned outlet mentioned that Kennedy's financial disclosures show he has "received millions of dollars from referring clients to Wisner Baum and Morgan & Morgan, law firms that have sued vaccine and drug makers."

"The risk is high that Mr. Kennedy will use his power and pulpit at HHS to enrich his trial-lawyer friends at the expense of public health and medical innovation," the editorial board wrote. "Senators would be wise to believe RFK Jr.’s career of spreading falsehoods rather than his confirmation conversions."

The Journal has shown a willingness to criticize Trump and his officials in recent years, most recently knocking the president for pulling the security details of former top aides who have faced threats from foreign powers.

Topics

RFK Jr. hearings begin

Click in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Health Care Health Care The Big Story RFK Jr. hearings begin Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the nearly $2 trillion Department of ...
The Hill - 5h
Caroline Kennedy calls cousin RFK Jr a predator ahead of confirmation hearing

Scathing letter warns senators about danger her relative poses if confirmed as health secretary. Caroline Kennedy, cousin to the current pick for health and human services secretary Robert F ...
The Guardian - 11h
5 key health topics to watch at RFK Jr.'s Senate confirmation hearings

On Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to appear before the Senate Finance Committee for the first of two confirmation hearings as Trump’s nominee for health secretary.
NBC News - 13h
RFK Jr. to face Senate confirmation hearings tomorrow. Here's what to know.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will answer questions from the Senate's Finance Committee on Wednesday.
CBS News - 19h
Senate confirmation hearings for RFK Jr., Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard this week

Some of President Trump's most high-profile Cabinet picks are set to go before the Senate this week for their confirmation hearings. CBS News congressional correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns has a ...
CBS News - 1d
Wall Street Journal knocks Trump for leaving former aides unprotected

The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal is blasting President Trump over a decision to revoke the security details from former top aides to his first administration. "The possibility of ...
The Hill - 4d
Where does RFK Jr.'s health secretary nomination stand?

Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to appear before senators on Capitol Hill next week. It's a highly anticipated confirmation hearing partly because of the ...
CBS News - 6d
Wall Street Journal pans Trump Jan. 6 pardons: 'Law and order?'

The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal is criticizing President Trump's decision to pardon more than 1,500 his supporters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. "This is a rotten message ...
The Hill - 6d
Over 17,000 doctors urge Senate to reject RFK Jr. as health secretary

Thousands of doctors are calling on the Senate to reject Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., saying he is "actively dangerous."
CBS News - Jan. 9