PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A recent letter to the U.S. Senate, purportedly from a group of physicians backing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has come under scrutiny. An investigation has revealed that some signatories have faced serious disciplinary actions, including revoked or suspended medical licenses, raising questions about the letter’s credibility.
This letter was intended to bolster Kennedy’s nomination amidst significant opposition from the medical community due to his longstanding anti-vaccine activism that spans two decades. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, a medical doctor known for his work in vaccinating children against hepatitis B, has expressed concerns regarding Kennedy’s nomination, making him a crucial vote in the confirmation process.
In addition to several physicians facing disciplinary action, it was found that a significant number of the nearly 800 names on the letter do not belong to medical doctors. The list of signatories was submitted to the Senate by Senator Ron Johnson during Kennedy’s initial confirmation hearing, and the Associated Press (AP) received this information from Johnson’s office.
The signatories included individuals with varied backgrounds such as a journalist, a CPA, a firefighter/paramedic, a health coach, as well as at least 75 nurses and various physician’s assistants. Notably, over 90 individuals failed to provide any credentials, and more than 20 chiropractic professionals were included, a field that has historically supported Kennedy’s anti-vaccine initiatives.
MAHA Action, an organization led by Del Bigtree—a vocal anti-vaccine activist who previously worked on Kennedy’s presidential campaign—was responsible for orchestrating and submitting this letter. Reports indicate that Kennedy has financially benefitted in the past from transferring a trademark related to MAHA to a company associated with Bigtree, earning $100,000 in the process without reporting any compensation for the transfer.
The MAHA acronym stands for “Make America Healthy Again,” a variation of Donald Trump’s famous campaign slogan. Emma Post, a spokesperson for MAHA Action, stated that the letter was distributed in a grassroots fashion aimed exclusively at physicians, though she did not clarify how the organization verified the credentials of those signing.
There has been a lack of response from Bigtree and Kennedy regarding the allegations, while a White House spokesperson expressed optimism about the Senate’s prompt confirmation of Kennedy.
The letter, labeled “Doctors for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” claims to voice the support of medical professionals dedicated to tackling chronic diseases. However, an AP analysis discovered that at least 10 of the declared doctors have faced disciplinary actions from state medical boards for various violations, including severe cases of negligence. One signer received warnings from the Federal Trade Commission for making unauthorized health claims related to COVID-19 treatments.
Among those listed is Dr. Paul Thomas, an anti-vaccine advocate who surrendered his medical license after being accused of significant negligence in his medical practice. He was involved in advising an anti-vaccine activist in Samoa during a measles outbreak, raising further concerns about his qualifications. Another signer, Dr. Simone Gold, faced a reprimand for her actions during the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, but has claimed that her reprimand was overturned prior to receiving a pardon from Trump.
Additional signers include Meryl Nass, who has been under scrutiny for her treatment methods concerning COVID-19 and is currently appealing the suspension of her medical license. Other signatories have a history of improper vaccine waivers and violations of COVID-19 guidelines, further casting doubts on the group backing Kennedy’s nomination.
MAHA Action has indicated that the letter is just one of several affirming Kennedy’s nomination, claiming to have another letter with support from “17,000 medical professionals” that remained anonymous. Conversely, opponents of Kennedy have mobilized their own letters featuring signatures from over 18,000 doctors, which they assert had been thoroughly vetted and verified.
As this nomination moves forward, the controversy surrounding the qualifications and backgrounds of those in favor raises significant questions about the integrity of the support Kennedy has garnered.
