A group of Senate Democrats is questioning Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s actions concerning an ethics agreement. They observed inconsistencies in his financial disclosures related to a lawsuit involving the HPV vaccine, Gardasil.
During his confirmation process last year, Kennedy was still involved in a lawsuit filed by Wisner Baum against Merck. The lawsuit claimed that Gardasil caused neurological and autoimmune injuries. Earlier this year, Merck agreed to pay $50 million to settle the lawsuit, maintaining that its product was safe and effective.
Wisner Baum confirmed that neither Kennedy nor his son received funds from the settlement, countering what Kennedy told Congress about divesting his interests. Initially, Kennedy stated he would transfer his lawsuit interests to his son. However, the Department of Health and Human Services disclosed in May that these interests were assigned to Wisner Baum, which the firm confirmed.
The discrepancy raised doubts among Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, and Angela Alsobrooks. They questioned the conditions under which Kennedy decided to transfer the interests back to Wisner Baum, seeking clarification on whether he might receive benefits or considerations from the firm after leaving government.
According to Emily Hilliard, Senior Press Secretary at HHS, “Secretary Kennedy fully complied with his ethics agreement and divested his entire financial interest in the Gardasil contingency-fee cases before assuming his duties as Secretary.” She added that Kennedy retained no financial interest in the fees, and his compliance was confirmed to relevant congressional committees. Hilliard stated, “Any claim that Secretary Kennedy maintained a financial interest in this litigation after taking office is false.”
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