RFK Jr. Calls Out Senators in Big Pharma’s Pocket During Confirmation Hearing [WATCH]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sparked contentious debate in the Senate this week, bringing renewed attention to the influence of pharmaceutical and health industry donations on lawmakers.

During a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on Thursday, Kennedy defended his record against critics while senators questioning him found their own financial ties to the healthcare industry under scrutiny.

Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) questioned Kennedy’s past statements on vaccines, including those related to measles and Hepatitis B.

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While expressing concerns over Kennedy’s views, Cassidy acknowledged the nominee’s broad popular support.

“My responsibility is to learn, to try to understand if you can be trusted to support the best public health,” Cassidy said.

“A worthy movement called MAHA [Make America Healthy Again] to improve the health of Americans, or to undermine it, always asking for more evidence and never accepting the evidence that is there. That’s my dilemma, man. So you may be hearing from me over the weekend.”

Meanwhile, Kennedy and his supporters have pointed to the role of pharmaceutical industry donations in the confirmation process.

“Our kids are getting sicker and sicker. All of the people here who are defending this current system, and defending these pharmaceutical profits, are taking huge amounts of money from the pharmaceutical industry,” Kennedy said.

“This is not making our country healthier. It’s making our country sicker. We need to get rid of these conflicts.”

BREAKING: RFK Jr. calls out senators for taking huge amounts of money from Big Pharma. pic.twitter.com/I4OoI1nY1E

— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) January 30, 2025

The role of industry donations in the confirmation process has drawn heightened attention, particularly regarding members of the Senate Finance Committee and the HELP Committee.

The watchdog group OpenSecrets has tracked contributions from pharmaceutical companies, health professionals, and related industries to committee members over the past five years.

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) has received significant contributions from the health sector between 2019 and 2024, including $749,316 from health professionals, $652,004 from insurers, $539,242 from health services and HMOs, and $502,063 from the pharmaceutical industry.

His top donors include Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Centene Corporation.

Cassidy, who expressed uncertainty over Kennedy’s confirmation, received $1,623,298 from health professionals and $996,737 from the pharmaceutical industry from 2019 to 2025, with Ochsner Health System as one of his top donors.

Even senators known for their criticism of the pharmaceutical industry have come under scrutiny.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) raised concerns that Kennedy’s lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies could financially damage vaccine manufacturers.

However, Warren has received $498,074 from health professionals, $126,056 from the pharmaceutical industry, and $109,065 from hospitals and nursing homes over the same period.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a longtime critic of corporate influence, has received $115,690 from the pharmaceutical industry and $159,233 from the food and beverage industry.

During Kennedy’s testimony, Sanders was challenged on the $1,417,633 in contributions from pharmaceutical industry employees during his 2020 presidential campaign.

“The problem of corruption is not just in the federal agencies. It’s in the Congress too,” Kennedy said.

“Almost all the members of this panel, including yourself, are accepting millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry and protecting their interests.”

Sanders defended his contributions, stating, “I ran for president like you. I got millions and millions of contributions. They did not come from the executives, not one nickel of PAC money from the pharmaceutical industry. They came from workers.”

RFK Jr. calls out Bernie Sanders direct to his face!

“Bernie, you have accepted millions of dollars from the Pharmaceutical industry. In 2020 you were the single largest receiver of Pharmaceutical dollars. $1.5M”

The crowd erupts in applause! LFG!!pic.twitter.com/ylQezDqyyY

— Autism Capital (@AutismCapital) January 30, 2025

Beyond campaign contributions, several senators overseeing Kennedy’s confirmation hold personal financial interests in industries that could be affected by his policies.

Wyden’s spouse owns stock valued between $50,000 and $100,000 in Restaurant Brands International Inc., which owns Burger King, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs, as well as an investment worth between $1,001 and $15,000 in Pfizer.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the HELP Committee, has financial ties to multiple industries regulated by HHS.

Her spouse owns stocks valued between $15,000 and $50,000 in companies such as EcoLab Inc., The Hershey Company, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) has between $1 million and $5 million invested in Health Velocity Capital I, LP, a hedge fund focusing on healthcare technology, along with between $250,000 and $500,000 in Health Velocity II, LP, a venture capital fund.

While many senators on both sides of the aisle remain skeptical of Kennedy’s nomination, some have voiced strong support.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), one of the top recipients of pharmaceutical industry contributions in 2023-2024, has endorsed Kennedy’s nomination.

“It’s time to confirm RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary. He is ready to MAHA,” Blackburn said during the Senate Finance Committee hearing.

It’s time to confirm RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary. He is ready to MAHA pic.twitter.com/e3kyAxQZqG

— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 29, 2025

Kennedy’s confirmation remains uncertain as senators weigh his nomination against their own industry ties, with both his critics and supporters facing public scrutiny over their financial relationships with the healthcare sector.

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