WASHINGTON — Sen. Invoice Cassidy, R-La., grilled Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy on his skepticism of vaccines Thursday, arguing that his actions fly within the face of one in all President Donald Trump’s greatest achievements.
Cassidy opened his questioning at a Senate listening to by asking Kennedy if he agrees Trump ought to get a Nobel Prize for the event of the Covid vaccine within the throes of the pandemic throughout his first time period, often called Operation Warp Velocity.
Kennedy replied rapidly: “Completely, senator.”
Cassidy was skeptical.
“However you simply instructed Sen. [Michael] Bennet that the Covid vaccine killed extra individuals than Covid. That was an announcement,” Cassidy mentioned, including that “it surprises me that you just suppose so extremely of Operation Warp Velocity when, as an lawyer, you tried to limit entry” to the Covid vaccine.
Kennedy denied that he mentioned the vaccine killed extra individuals than Covid, and supplied to clarify why he carried out authorized work in opposition to the vaccine. However Cassidy was unimpressed, saying he had restricted time and endured with additional questions.
Cassidy cited testimonials from a conservative commentator that HHS actions are making it tougher for some Individuals to get the Covid vaccine, and from physicians anxious that the shortage of steerage from HHS in regards to the vaccine may create legal responsibility issues.
“I’d say, successfully, we’re denying individuals vaccine,” Cassidy instructed Kennedy throughout his questioning.
The bizarre alternate comes as Cassidy walks a political tightrope. He is a physician and proponent of vaccines. However he is additionally working for re-election within the deep-red state of Louisiana, the place he faces a problem from the MAGA wing of the social gathering. Trump has not made an endorsement within the race.
Cassidy’s technique Thursday was to voice his skepticisms of Kennedy by way of the language of Trump’s motion: by presenting them as a method to present help for the president and to guard his legacy.
Trump has a fancy historical past on the matter. He took pleasure within the Covid vaccine rollout throughout the pandemic. However throughout his 2024 comeback marketing campaign, Trump additionally sought to channel anger on the authorities’s response to Covid inside his base — together with mistrust of public well being officers that has translated into some anti-vaccine sentiments.
That led to the partnership between Trump and Kennedy, the scion of a Democratic political dynasty that now eschews his politics, and finally, the president’s choice of him as HHS secretary.
Earlier this yr, Cassidy, the chair of the Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee, brazenly acknowledged he struggled with Kennedy’s nomination. Cassidy ended up offering essential help for Kennedy after receiving assurances that he wouldn’t sow mistrust or injury the provision of vaccines. With Cassidy’s backing, Kennedy superior to the Senate ground, the place he was confirmed 52-48. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the lone Republican to affix all Democrats in voting in opposition to Kennedy.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., mentioned Kennedy broke his promise to Cassidy and will resign.
“He has fully gone in opposition to what he pledged to this committee and to my pal Invoice Cassidy,” Warner instructed reporters. “This can be a large step backwards.”
Cassidy was one in all two Republican medical doctors, together with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming, who voiced concern Thursday that Kennedy’s actions might negatively impression public well being.
“To me, what’s extra essential is that there are Republicans like Invoice Cassidy, with medical levels, which are starting to name the query on the madness that Robert Kennedy is spewing in every single place,” Bennet, D-Colo., instructed reporters. “I simply hope that it will not be too late.”
Cassidy left the Senate Finance Committee listening to room after questioning Kennedy on Thursday and instructed reporters a number of occasions that his alternate speaks for itself. Requested if he regrets his pivotal vote to verify Kennedy to the place, Cassidy did not reply earlier than disappearing into an elevator.
Inside a couple of hours, Cassidy posted his portion of remarks from the listening to on X, asking why Trump hasn’t acquired a Nobel for Operation Warp Velocity.
