Both Republicans and Democrats clash with RFK Jr. on vaccines, CDC turmoil
"We're denying people vaccines," Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy told Kennedy.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a grilling before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
Over nearly three hours of questioning, he defended his controversial views on vaccines and the ouster of Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Key Headlines
- GOP senators sidestep when asked if they still have confidence in RFK Jr.
- Contentious hearing ends after nearly 3 hours
- Sanders presses Kennedy on his accusations against major medical groups
- Kennedy claims Monarez said she was 'not trustworthy'
- Sanders suggests he'll call on Susan Monarez to testify before HELP Committee
Bennet, Kennedy spar over vaccines
Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet grilled Kennedy on his firing of all 17 members of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, and the panel's upcoming review of childhood vaccine schedule recommendations later this month.
The exchange turned heated as both men raised their voices.
"I'm asking the questions, Mr. Kennedy, on behalf of parents and schools and teachers all over the United States of America who deserve so much better than your leadership," Bennet yelled. "That's what this conversation is about."
"Senator, they deserve the truth, and that's what we're going to give them for the first time in the history of that agency," Kennedy responded.
Fact check: No link between mRNA COVID vaccine, cardiac deaths
RFK Jr. doubled down on the false accusation that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines cause serious harm, including death among young people.
This question has been heavily studied in the wake of the rare risk of myocarditis among younger adults.
The data do not support a link between mRNA vaccines and sudden cardiac death among previously healthy young people.
-ABC News' Sony Salzman
RFK Jr. claims COVID pandemic was 'politicized'
Kennedy claimed the COVID-19 pandemic was "politicized" and that Americans were lied to.
He claimed it was untrue that COVID-19 vaccines would prevent transmission and infection.
Studies of the original vaccine found it to be 90% effective against lab-confirmed, symptomatic infection and 100% effective against moderate and severe disease, according to Yale Medicine.
Democrats call for RFK Jr.'s resignation
Most Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee -- which has oversight over HHS and is questioning Kennedy today -- put out a statement before Tuesday's hearing calling for RFK Jr's resignation.
"Robert Kennedy has failed to protect the health of the American people and endangers the lives of all Americans, particularly children, people with disabilities, and vulnerable Americans. Robert Kennedy must resign, and if he doesn’t, Trump should fire him before more American families are hurt by his reckless disregard for science and the truth," the group of 12 senators wrote.
Kennedy avoided reporters' questions before the hearing started, as did Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy.
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner who signed the letter, however, stressed his calls for Kennedy's removal.
"Absolutely. Purely based on the fact that he's completely gone against what he pledged to this committee and to my friend Bill Cassidy," he told ABC News.
-ABC News' Jay O'Brien and Allison Pecorin