Kennedy's Vaccine Lawsuit Conflict Raises Ethics Concerns

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing scrutiny from Democratic senators over his involvement in a lawsuit against Merck, the manufacturer of the HPV vaccine Gardasil.

Last year, during his confirmation process, Kennedy was still part of the law firm Wisner Baum's lawsuit against Merck, alleging that Gardasil caused neurological and autoimmune injuries.

Merck agreed to pay $50 million in February this year to settle the lawsuit without admitting any guilt. Wisner Baum confirmed at the time that neither Kennedy nor his son would receive money from the settlement, contradicting what the secretary told Congress about how he would handle his divestment.

Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, and Angela Alsobrooks wrote a letter to Kennedy questioning whether he had concealed an agreement with Wisner Baum to collect money from the settlement despite pledging to divest.