Summary
- Dem.
Rep. Haley Stevens is drafting articles to impeach RFK Jr. - Accuses
him of causing “health care chaos” and cutting research. - Criticizes
Kennedy’s unfounded vaccine-autism claims and conspiracy spread.
A Democrat has stated she is preparing articles of
impeachment against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. amid a barrage of
misinformation and non-scientific medical warnings from the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
Over the years, Kennedy has promoted a number of myths about
vaccinations, such as incorrect claims about their safety and effectiveness and
the spurious association between vaccines and autism.
He eliminated every member of a Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) advisory council on vaccination when he was secretary of
HHS, and he primarily appointed conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxers to fill
the vacancies.
More recently, Kennedy, President Donald Trump, and other
health officials declared that the White House’s official stance was that
pregnant women who take acetaminophen may give birth to children who have
autism. However, research investigating the potential causal relationship
between the two contradicts this claim. Medical professionals have denounced
the recommendations as misleading, pointing out that serious consequences might
arise if fevers or pains are not treated during pregnancy.
Kennedy laid off thousands of HHS employees when he took
office. He then declared that many of the fired employees will be rehired by
his department, although this was never done.
In response to these and other controversial actions under
his short tenure, more than 1,000 current employees at HHS wrote an open letter
calling for Kennedy, who has zero experience in the health field, to step down.
Several weeks later, Kennedy is still in his post. Rep.
Haley Stevens (D-Michigan) said that, because he remains a threat to Americans’
health, she is drafting articles of impeachment against Kennedy.
“Health care chaos. Reckless cuts. Rising costs.
Michiganders and families across the country are paying the price for RFK Jr.’s
agenda,”
Stevens wrote in a post on X Thursday morning.
“Enough is enough,
which is why I’m drafting articles of impeachment against @SecKennedy.”
Stevens claimed in her complaint that Kennedy had slashed
life-saving research for a number of programs, including studies on addiction,
cancer, and SIDS. She pointed out that he has also halted mRNA vaccine research
and spread false information that has increased public vaccine skepticism.
According to Stevens’ press statement, Kennedy “made
promises to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee
Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA), which he has not upheld.” (The HHS secretary
may have committed perjury during his confirmation hearings, according to some
critics.)
“Secretary Kennedy has violated his oath of office and
proven himself unfit to serve the American people,”
Stevens added.
“Congress
must act to hold him accountable, and I intend to lead the charge to remove him
from office.”
Given the Republican dominance in both chambers of Congress,
Stevens has little to no chance of impeaching Kennedy, let alone removing him
from office.
Just 39% of respondents indicated they were “very confident”
or “somewhat confident” in Kennedy’s recommendations when asked
whether they had any faith in the medical data he mentioned. Of those who saw
him speak, 57% indicated they were “not so confident” or “not at
all confident.”
The poll was conducted between September 18 and 21, before
Kennedy and Trump propagated their unfounded allegations about acetaminophen,
even though it was released on Wednesday.
What specific charges are in the impeachment articles
against RFK Jr?
Creating “health care chaos” by making
irresponsible budget cuts to helpful cancer research, Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome programs, addiction treatment, and vaccine programs.
Reducing vaccine access while spreading false conspiracy
theories questioning vaccines’ safety and effectiveness, such as claiming
vaccines cause autism.
Firing all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices and replacing them mostly with skeptics and conspiracy
theorists. Ending $500 million in contracts for mRNA vaccine research and canceling
studies on vaccine hesitancy.
