Wyden Accuses RFK Jr. of Unlawful Interference in Congressional Elections

Wyden Accuses RFK Jr. of Unlawful Interference in Congressional Elections

Top Finance Democrat Files Hatch Act Complaint, Calls for Office of Special Counsel Investigation Into Robert Kennedy's Activities to Bully Third-Party Candidates Out of Congressional Elections

Letter to the Office of Special Counsel (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today filed a Hatch Act complaint accusing Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of unlawful political interference in congressional elections, after recordings emerged revealing conversations to convince third-party candidates to drop out of races that could jeopardize Republican control of the House of Representatives.

Wyden also sent a letter to the Office of Special Counsel to open an investigation into the matter.

"Kennedy has spent sixteen months using his official position to undermine the health and well-being of his fellow Americans, and now he is using his official position to undermine the integrity of democratic elections too," Wyden wrote. "The quid pro quo offer of federal employment or other personal gain that Kennedy extended to Stewart on the June 11 phone call is conduct expressly prohibited by the Hatch Act, and it also exposes Kennedy to criminal liability under various provisions of federal law. I ask that your office open an investigation without delay-time and urgency are of the essence. With the White House reportedly dispatching Kennedy as a campaign surrogate across the country, it is likely that Kennedy's election interference activities extend far beyond the two phone calls we know about in Iowa."

Wyden has continually highlighted Robert Kennedy's flagrant disregard for the law since becoming HHS secretary.

The text of the letter is here.

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