Lawmakers quizzed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wednesday throughout a Senate Finance listening to about his determination to maintain a monetary stake in litigation in opposition to a serious vaccine maker.
Ethics data launched prematurely of the listening to mentioned that Mr. Kennedy deliberate to obtain charges on instances with the non-public harm legislation agency Wisner Baum.
Mr. Kennedy has referred shoppers to the agency in instances claiming accidents from the Gardasil vaccine, a Merck product that’s meant to stop cervical most cancers that may be brought on by the human papillomavirus, or HPV.
Mr. Kennedy took the bizarre step of protecting his stake within the pending litigation, in accordance with ethics paperwork he filed prematurely of his affirmation hearings. Mr. Kennedy mentioned in his ethics filings that he would finish his referral settlement with the legislation agency however would acquire charges associated to instances within the persevering with instances.
The monetary association drew sharp criticism from Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts. She famous Mr. Kennedy’s historical past of suggesting that drug firms and federal officers are motivated by monetary achieve.
She accused Mr. Kennedy of profiteering from vaccine skepticism. She pointed to the monetary stake in litigation in opposition to the vaccine maker Merck — and his intention to carry on to it even when he features regulatory energy over the corporate as well being secretary.
“Children would possibly die,” Ms. Warren mentioned. “However Robert Kennedy can maintain cashing in.”
Public data present that Mr. Kennedy has earned about $2.5 million from his work with Wisner Baum since 2022. Mr. Kennedy earned charges associated to his work with the agency on instances claiming hurt from the weed killer Roundup, in accordance with the agency. He additionally earned charges in instances associated to California wildfires.
“All of those instances alleged company wrongdoing that precipitated life-changing hurt to victims,” Wisner Baum’s managing companion, R. Brent Wisner, mentioned in an announcement Wednesday.
The Wisner Baum agency is presently representing a plaintiff in a bellwether trial in opposition to Merck that began this month in California, and different lawsuits are pending in North Carolina.
The California trial concerned a plaintiff who claimed that she developed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, after getting the shot. A Merck spokesman has mentioned the allegations haven’t any advantage.
Mr. Kennedy would obtain a doubtlessly vital sum if Merck settles the instances or if there’s a verdict in opposition to the drug firm in one among many jury trials which can be anticipated.
Ethics consultants mentioned the enterprise association can be problematic if Mr. Kennedy is confirmed to be the nation’s well being secretary. He would oversee the Meals and Drug Administration and different businesses that concern key choices for drug firms, together with Merck. Some contain drug approvals, security actions and funding for Medicare and Medicaid.
The association, first reported by The Instances, has drawn widespread consideration. Caroline Kennedy, who launched a scathing letter Tuesday detailing her considerations about her cousin, mentioned the deal demonstrated that “he’s prepared to counterpoint himself by denying entry to a vaccine that may stop virtually all types of cervical most cancers and which has been safely administered to tens of millions of girls and boys.”
He additionally pledged to finish a referral settlement with Morgan & Morgan, the massive private harm agency that’s now suing main meals firms, claiming that they harmed individuals with their addictive ultra-processed meals.
