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c/politics · by inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world · 1d

Exclusive: RFK Jr. said a Samoa trip had nothing to do with vaccines. New documents refute that

https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-kennedy-samoa-vaccines-mmr-ba6ad3ffadca48599b1c178a392fb37b

178 points · 21 comments · view on lemmy.world

21 Comments

areakode@riskeratspizza.com · 32 pts · 1d

Huh. Too bad perjury isn't a crime anymore if you work for the oompa loompa.

MunkyNutts@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 1d (3 replies)

So perjury? Anything going to be done about it?

sbbq@lemmy.zip · 13 pts · 1d

You already know there won't be.

jpreston2005@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 1d

Attorneys said lawmakers could use Kennedy’s statements as grounds for hearings, an impeachment inquiry or creating other obstacles for him. But such action is unlikely under the current Republican-led Congress

HHS did not make Kennedy available for an interview. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The Samoan prime minister’s office and the former prime minister who corresponded with Kennedy did not respond to requests for comment.

If they just ignore it and ignore you than they can get away with breaking the law.

It's almost like they're above the law?

halcyoncmdr@piefed.social · 4 pts · 1d

No, and that's not even new. Perjury is almost never charged.

In large part because it's nearly impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury, that the person actively knew they were lying about a response, instead of something like misremembering.

jpreston2005@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 1d (1 reply)

Cassidy said he voted to confirm Kennedy because he received commitments that Kennedy would not change certain vaccine policies and guidance. For example, Cassidy said when announcing his vote, Kennedy pledged to maintain a federal vaccine advisory committee “without changes.” Once in office, Kennedy ousted all 17 members of the committee and named his own advisers.

Real Leopards Ate My Face material right there

Kennedy’s Samoa visit has become one of the most contentious events in his career. At the time, he was leading a nonprofit known for its anti-vaccine activism. Critics said the visit fueled anti-vaccine sentiment in Samoa, which later experienced the measles outbreak that killed 83 people, mostly children under 5.

And his drug-induced paranoia lead to a growing climate of anti-vax sentiment which resulted in the death of 83 people.

inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1d

I doubt there were any leopards there, just a wink, wink, nudge, nudge with that vote. He knew what he voted for and just wanted optics.

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 14 pts · 1d (6 replies)

Why isn't media asking who funds the Children's Health Defense Fund, which paid RFK $500k/yr.

Primarily Vanguard and Fidelity. CHDF takes in $15M a year now to fund anti vaccine efforts.

bomibantai@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d (5 replies)

It's probably donor advised funds that vanguard and fidelity are directing towards that org, not of their own volition, just a clarification. Those 2 don't really spend any major amounts of money on discretionary causes, compared to the literal hundreds of billions they use on behalf of their clients.

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 1d

donor advised funds that vanguard and fidelity are directing towards that org

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund $1.1M

Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program $2.2M

Selz Foundation $500K

So...antivax is funded partially by taxpayers as these donations are a tax write off.

Donations went up 500% since Trump took power, so we can assume these donations are at the request of Trump.

Fucking media needs to follow the money. Antivax is only about money.

sudoshakes@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 1d (3 replies)

When I worked at Fidelity it was 3.9 Trillion dollars in assets under management. It has risen since then by a couple trillion

bomibantai@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d (2 replies)

Sure, but that's what they are managing. If you order a burger for delivery, it's not like Uber/doordash are purchasing a burger, they're just managing your order.

sudoshakes@reddthat.com · 4 pts · 1d (1 reply)

Not arguing that point, the original guy was incorrect, just pointing out it’s a order of magnitude bigger of funds they manage

bomibantai@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1d

Got it, I misunderstood

Cris_Citrus@piefed.zip · 8 pts · 1d

Changing the word "said" to "testified" would improve the headline

sbbq@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 1d (3 replies)

Is Rfk Jr just a straight up eugenicist trying to kill "weak" children?

a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1d (1 reply)

Yes. That is why demonizing autistic folks is important to him. Remember all of the teary eyed "they will never hold a job or buy a house..."

Which is a much better description of the people who die from lack of vaccine availability or his most recent measles outbreak.

Aqivex@fedinsfw.app · 2 pts · 1d

That is why demonizing autistic folks is important to him.

They don't focus so much on the neurodivergent because of the extreme cases such as complete non-verbal ASD presentation or ADHD so severe the patient needs to be a ward of the state.

Those cases are about as numerous as there are trans people in our society; single digit percentages.

They focus so much on the demonization of the neurodivergent because the grand majority are entirely functional (at the cost of much chafing) within the bullshit societal paradigms as they currently stand...

But wouldn't be, under the societal paradigms they want, and the functionally neurodivergent are, by definition, somewhat harder to model than a statistically average neurotypical presentation.

They fear the ungovernable.

floofloof@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d

Him and the rest of the administration. The mistake was putting Nazis in charge of the country.

hoppeduponcoffee@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 1d (1 reply)

I want this asshole to get bit by a rabid bat and refuse a vaccine.

vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 1d

Personally I want him to go out like his uncle and father, though in this case it'd be completely justified.