Sen. Bernie Sanders says he was “not particularly happy” with RFK Jr.’s performance at hearings, citing “deep concerns”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont unbiased, mentioned Sunday that he was “not significantly completely happy” with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presentation earlier than Senate committees final week, although he wouldn’t say how he plans to vote on Kennedy’s nomination to steer the Division of Well being and Human Providers.

“I’ll vote once I’ll vote. However anyone who watched that listening to understands my deep issues about Kennedy,” Sanders said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”

Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats, is the rating member on the Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions committee and in addition sits on the Senate Finance Committee, which Kennedy appeared earlier than final week. The Finance Committee introduced Sunday that it’ll vote on whether or not to advance RFK’s nomination Tuesday.

The Vermont unbiased outlined the place he thinks Kennedy is true, pointing to his feedback in regards to the nation being unhealthy, about life expectancy relative to different rich international locations and points with the meals business. However he confused that Kennedy “continues to imagine that autism is brought on by vaccines,” and was not aligned with him on points like common healthcare and concentrating on the pharmaceutical business to decrease prescription drug costs. 

Sanders additionally argued that “the conspiracy theories” that Kennedy has entertained are “not in contrast to what we’re listening to everywhere in the Trump administration.”

The feedback come after Kennedy was grilled on his vaccine stance, amongst different issues, in the course of the hearings final week, as his development out of committee — and affirmation by the Senate extra broadly — stays in query. 

Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, mentioned he is been “struggling” with Kennedy’s nomination as a result of issues he could undermine religion in vaccines. And with out help from Democrats and independents on the committee, Cassidy’s opposition may tank a positive suggestion for Kennedy. In a flooring vote earlier than the total Senate, Republicans can lose simply three votes to verify Kennedy with out help throughout the aisle.

Although Kennedy, 71, dropped out of the presidential race to endorse President Trump in August, he beforehand sought the Democratic nomination and has shut ties to the celebration because the because the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the son of Robert F. Kennedy.

Sanders, requested whether or not he would assist Republicans to verify Kennedy, mentioned he’ll make his choice within the days forward, noting that though he is voted for a few of Mr. Trump’s nominees, although he is voted towards most.