Senate Democrat Throws Down With RFK Jr. in Fiery Hearing: Your ‘Position is Indefensible!’

Senator Ron Wyden (R-OR) and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threw down during a Senate hearing on Thursday where Wyden accused Kennedy of pushing “indefensible” positions on vaccines.

Kennedy appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday morning following CDC Director Susan Monarez and other high level officials departing the agency. Moranez wrote in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal that Kennedy encouraged her to go along with vaccine guidances even if she felt they went against scientific evidence. Wyden confronted Kennedy on Thursday about the accusation, which Kennedy denied, saying he’s never had a private meeting with Moranez.

During Wyden’s questioning of Kennedy, he noted that the American Academy of Pediatrics “has warned that the committee is being politicized,” something Kennedy also denied, saying he’s depoliticized the committee, arguing they are influenced by major pharmaceutical companies.

“Now the American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that the committee is being politicized at the expense of children’s health. American Academy Of Pediatrists, you think they’re lying too?” Wyden asked after Kennedy accused Moranez of lying.

“I think the American Academy of Pediatrics is gravely conflicted. They get — their biggest contributors are the four largest vaccine makers. They run a journal, Pediatrix, which they make a lot of money on, that is completely dependent on pharmaceutical companies. So I don’t think I wouldn’t put a big stake in what they say that benefits pharmaceutical interests. Senator, I didn’t politicize it, but I de-politicize it,” Kennedy argued.

Wyden also threw down with Kennedy on the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine. A Kennedy advisory panel recently recommended a new treatment for RSV for infants, and Wyden argued Kennedy is moving in a direction that will create more dangerous circumstances for children.

“The position is indefensible!” Wyden said.

Check out the exchange below:

RON WYDEN: Now the American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that the committee is being politicized at the expense of children’s health. American Academy Of Pediatrists, you think they’re lying too?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: I think the American Academy of Pediatrics is gravely conflicted. They get — their biggest contributors are the four largest vaccine makers. They run a journal, Pediatrix, which they make a lot of money on, that is completely dependent on pharmaceutical companies. So I don’t think I wouldn’t put a big stake in what they say that benefits pharmaceutical interests. Senator, I didn’t politicize it, but I de-politicize it. Congress has been investigating ACAP.

WYDEN: Over the country, Mr. Secretary. Scientists and doctors are saying otherwise. They’re all wrong, too. They’re lying, according to you.

KENNEDY: The scientists and doctors that are supporting me over the country. There is division on opinion.

WYDEN: I don’t get letters from thousands of people who are not political saying that this set of changes is going to damage American health care and particularly these health care agencies for decades to come. I don’t get any letters from people saying, hey, this is going to make a big difference forever.

KENNEDY: Maybe you’re listening to a selective group of people. I will tell you what, senator, I will put my mail bag against your mail bag any day of the week.

WYDEN: I’ve got 30 seconds. Dangerous respiratory viruses like RSV are on the agenda for the next advisory meeting. Countless parents have been awakened in the dead of night by a wheezing kid gasping for air, forced to rush their little one to the ER. There’s no worse heart wrenching fear. The RSV vaccine offers these kids protection against the worst effects of the virus. But now it looks like you’re on a crusade to make infants and babies more vulnerable to the terrible illness. That’s what we’re doing with the COVID changes. The position is indefensible.

KENNEDY: Congress has been investigating that committee for 23 years because it is pervaded with conflicts of interest. What we did is we got rid of the conflicts of interests and we de-politicized it and put great scientists on it from a very diverse group from very, very pro-vaccine.

Watch above via CNN.