Controversial US health secretary nominee Robert F Kennedy Jr passes Senate committee vote
US President Donald Trump's nominee for health secretary and former Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr passed a crucial test on Tuesday, as senators voted to advance his nomination to the floor. Kennedy initially met with resistance from some members of the US senate because of past unfounded claims linking vaccines to autism.
US President Donald Trump's embattled health secretary pick, vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr, passed a crucial test in his confirmation bid on Tuesday as senators voted to advance his nomination to the floor.
With Republicans having a one-seat advantage on the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy's future hinged on Bill Cassidy, a physician who has clashed publicly with the former Democrat over past unfounded claims linking vaccines to autism.
But Cassidy backed Kennedy after the 71-year-old environmental lawyer was given a strong vote of confidence from Trump, who urged support for the man whom just nine months ago he was calling "one of the most Liberal Lunatics ever to run for office."
"20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT'S 1 in 34. WOW! Something's really wrong. We need BOBBY!!!" Trump posted on his website, Truth Social, ahead of the vote.
Cassidy is a rare occasional rebel in the Republican ranks but he faces reelection next year in Louisiana and risked picking up a challenger from the Republican Party's Trumpist far right if he had upset the president.
(AFP)
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