RFK Jr. Refuses To Say If He Takes ‘Any Responsibility’ for Measles Crisis | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON – Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday refused to say whether or not he takes any accountability for the surge in measles circumstances across the nation.

Kennedy, who has spent many years spreading disinformation concerning the security of vaccines, has been testifying to Congress for the previous two days about President Donald Trump’s 2027 finances request. During that point, he repeatedly scoffed at the concept he deserved any blame for the measles outbreaks that unfold on his watch. Instead, he blamed Mennonites, immigrants on the border and different nations for the nationwide disaster.

Thousands of Americans have contracted measles on Kennedy’s watch, the overwhelming majority of whom have been unvaccinated. Even because the outbreak unfold, the HHS secretary continued to mislead individuals and downplay the seriousness of the virus.

On Wednesday, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), who instructed Kennedy she’s been watching him duck accountability in different hearings all week, instantly requested him the one query he’s tried to keep away from answering.

“You’ve blamed the Mennonites. You’ve blamed immigrants. You’ve blamed the globe,” the senator instructed him. “We’ve been part of the globe. And still, we are in this situation.”

“Do you take any responsibility in your role for the situation we’re in with this measles epidemic?” she requested.

Even when requested point-blank like this, Kennedy declined to come clean with any of the state of affairs: “As I said, the measles epidemic began before I came into office.”

“I’m going to take that as a ‘no’,” Blunt Rochester stated.

The HHS secretary has been extremely defensive all week when requested about vaccines and measles, even when questions weren’t important of his dealing with of the outbreaks.

Earlier in Wednesday’s listening to, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the chairman, requested Kennedy how HHS is making ready for the upcoming World Cup video games within the U.S., together with readiness to deal with an inflow of vacationers who might convey vaccine-preventable ailments into the nation.

Kennedy ignored the query and as an alternative boasted that he’s “done better” at controlling measles outbreaks than different nations.

Offering up a statistic he wasn’t requested about, the HHS secretary shared that 80% of unvaccinated youngsters within the U.S. are older than 5 years previous, which implies their dad and mom’ choices to not vaccinate them “predated my appointment.”

The “global pandemic” of measles “doesn’t have anything to do with me,” he claimed.