After a bruising spherical of affirmation hearings this week that left Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s affirmation doubtful, the nominee for secretary of the Division of Well being and Human Companies declared in a written assertion to senators on Friday that, if confirmed, he’ll divest his monetary stake in an ongoing civil lawsuit in opposition to a vaccine producer.
Kennedy’s dedication to stroll away from the potential windfall is a significant reversal for the nominee, who in his ethics plan submitted to federal officers earlier this month informed lawmakers he was entitled to these proceeds as long as the U.S. authorities wasn’t concerned.
Democrats had seized on Kennedy’s monetary stake within the lawsuit, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., warning that he might use his perch in authorities to make it simpler for legal professionals – together with himself – to sue vaccine producers and drug makers in court docket.
The lawsuit alleges advertising and marketing fraud in opposition to pharmaceutical firm Merck for its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which Merck denies. The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the vaccine has been confirmed secure, with greater than 160 research discovering no considerations.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump’s nominee to function Secretary of Well being and Human Companies testifies throughout a Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions listening to for his pending affirmation, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
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“Kennedy can kill off entry to vaccines and make tens of millions of {dollars} whereas he does it,” Warren stated at Kennedy’s affirmation listening to on Wednesday.
“Youngsters would possibly die, however Robert Kennedy will maintain cashing in,” she added.
Kennedy struggled to lock-up conservative assist for his nomination after testifying this week. On Wednesday, the Wall Avenue Journal’s right-leaning editorial board praised Warren, writing that her questioning “expose[d]” Kennedy.
The following day, Republican Sen. Invoice Cassidy stated he was “struggling” with Kennedy’s nomination, noting at one level that Kennedy was “financially vested find fault with vaccines.”
Kennedy informed senators in his testimony Thursday that he was gifting away his rights to the charges within the lawsuit in opposition to Merck. Nonetheless, it was unclear whether or not he misspoke as a result of his ethics settlement nonetheless maintained that he was entitled to the charges.
In written solutions offered to the Senate Finance Committee on Friday, Kennedy clarified that an modification was forthcoming.
“An modification to my Ethics Settlement is in course of, and it gives that I’ll divest my curiosity on this litigation,” he stated.
Kennedy has earned tens of millions of {dollars} in referral charges from legislation corporations up to now for lawsuits unrelated to vaccines, together with one involving a pesticide. He had not earned cash but from the Merck case, which solely just lately was taken up in civil courts.
In his testimony, Kennedy stated he wished to retain the appropriate to sue drug firms even when confirmed.
“You’re asking me to not sue drug firms, and I’m not going to conform to that,” he stated.