“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would give up his financial interest in vaccine lawsuits—a potentially lucrative arrangement that drew rebukes at his confirmation hearings for his nomination as secretary of health and human services,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Legal experts said the move isn’t enough.
”“Kennedy has received more than $2 million for referring a range of legal cases to a plaintiffs law firm. He had planned if confirmed to keep getting such fees from a tranche of litigation against the pharmaceutical company Merck and its Gardasil cervical cancer vaccine. He reversed course at the end of last week, saying he plans to transfer the stake in the personal-injury lawsuits to one of his sons.”
“The arrangement still presents a conflict of interest because he could, as secretary, sway policy for his family’s financial gain, according to legal experts. For instance, Kennedy could make official statements as secretary that question vaccine safety, swaying jurors in the litigation.”
Politico: Finance Committee to vote on RFK Jr. Tuesday.