Sen. Whitehouse Withholds Vote on Controversial HHS Nominee Kennedy - Times News Global
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Sen. Whitehouse Withholds Vote on Controversial HHS Nominee Kennedy

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Sheldon Whitehouse Robert Kennedy Jr Senate Hearing

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., remained tight-lipped Monday about his stance on the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, a prominent anti-vaccine activist and environmentalist, faces significant opposition from Democrats and some Republicans ahead of his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.

Whitehouse, who attended law school with Kennedy at the University of Virginia, emphasized that he would not reveal his vote until after the hearing. “I have not been inclined to telegraph my vote before someone has even had their hearing, so people just need to kind of chill on that a bit,” Whitehouse told reporters after a groundbreaking ceremony for a REGENT Craft factory in Quonset Business Park. “Let him have his hearing, and then we’ll go forward. I can assure everyone that I will vote in a way that is best for Rhode Island.”

Kennedy, who ran for president as a Democrat in 2020, is one of President Donald Trump‘s most contentious Cabinet picks. His opposition to vaccination mandates and skepticism of mainstream science has drawn sharp criticism from public health experts and lawmakers. Despite their shared history as outdoorsmen and environmentalists, Whitehouse said he has not spoken with Kennedy since the nomination. “We have not been in touch for some time,” he acknowledged.

Many Democrats are vehemently opposed to Kennedy’s nomination, citing his anti-vaccine stance as a threat to public health. However, even if some Republican senators break ranks to reject him, it is unlikely Trump will nominate a candidate more palatable to Democrats. Whitehouse hinted at potential negotiations, noting that Rhode Island needs regulatory flexibility from the Health and Human Services bureaucracy under the Trump administration.

When asked what he needs to hear from Kennedy during the hearing, Whitehouse pointed to the nominee’s controversial views on vaccines. “I think there is a lot of anti-vax nonsense that needs to be corrected,” he said. “Then there are some very specific things that Rhode Island needs that I want to make sure don’t get overlooked in the Trump administration.”

Kennedy has a long history with Whitehouse, having endorsed him in his successful 1998 campaign for Rhode Island attorney general and again in his 2006 Senate primary victory over then-Secretary of State Matt Brown. Despite this political alliance, Whitehouse’s decision on Kennedy’s nomination remains uncertain as the Senate prepares for a contentious confirmation process.

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