US·United States·Republican
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
26th US Secretary of HHS (2025–)
activeclean
US Secretary of HHS (2025–). Environmental lawyer; son of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Longtime anti-vaccine activist; ran 2024 presidential campaign as independent, then endorsed Trump. Confirmed by Senate 52–48 on Feb 13, 2025.
LINKED SCANDALS
0
LEGAL EVENTS
2
RESEARCH
6 days ago
SANCTIONS
CLEAR
Legal history · 2 events
ethics·1984
Suspended from bar for inadequate prep of a case; later reinstated
criminal·1983-09-16
Arrested for heroin possession on a flight to South Dakota; 2yr probation after guilty plea
→ Probation completed
Deep research · Exaupdated 6 days ago
As of April 2026, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been publicly reported to be involved in several controversies and scandals, though there are no reports of criminal convictions or indictments. Notably, Kennedy has faced allegations related to a sexual misconduct case, which he settled in 2020 by paying nearly $1 million to the accuser and entering into a nondisclosure agreement. During his confirmation hearings for the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2025, Kennedy publicly denied the allegations but acknowledged settling a case over inappropriate behavior (The New Republic, Mediaite).
Kennedy's tenure as HHS Secretary has been marked by significant controversy, including accusations of centralization of power, alleged corruption, censorship, and policy shifts. Reports from early 2025 describe actions that have altered the public health infrastructure, with claims of censorship and questionable hiring practices, such as employing individuals with controversial backgrounds related to vaccine opposition (InfoEpi Lab). Additionally, Kennedy has broken promises made during his confirmation, notably regarding vaccine funding and recommendations, which has fueled further criticism (NPR).
There have also been reports of Kennedy paying settlements related to allegations of inappropriate conduct, with details emerging that he paid nearly $1 million in 2020 to settle a sexual misconduct case, raising questions about his conduct (The New Republic). While these allegations have not led to criminal charges, they have been publicly acknowledged by Kennedy. Overall, while there are no convictions or indictments, Kennedy's career has been marred by allegations, settlements, and controversies related to his behavior and policy actions as HHS Secretary.
Citations
HHS Under RFK Jr.: Centralization, Corruption, and Censorship – InfoEpi Lab
infoepi.org · 2025-04-01
Has RFK Jr. kept the promises he made in order to get his job at HHS? : NPR
www.npr.org · 2026-02-13
How Much RFK Jr. Paid a Sexual Misconduct Accuser to Stay Silent | The New Republic
www.newrepublic.com · 2025-02-04
A running list of RFK Jr.'s controversies
theweek.com · 2026-03-12
RFK Jr.’s purge of CDC vaccine advisers prompts outrage
www.science.org · 2025-06-13
Linked scandals← back
no scandals on record.