While admitting that he has “many skeletons” in his closet, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is calling a recent Vanity Fair article about his life “a lot of garbage.” The 70-year-old political scion and environmental lawyer, who is running for president as an Independent, has sparked controversy for years.
In his Vanity Fair article, Joe Hagan explores Kennedy’s “darkest secrets,” including his links to conspiracy theories, his history of drug use, claims of infidelity, and allegations of sexual assault. Kennedy accuses Vanity Fair and Hagan of supporting the Democratic Party and President Joe Biden.
Appearing on the July 2 episode of the “Breaking Points” podcast, Kennedy sidestepped questions about assault allegations from his family’s former babysitter. He also denied eating dog during a trip to Asia.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Had a ‘Very Rambunctious Youth’
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s candidacy has been characterized by controversy and shocking headlines. News leaked in May that he once said a worm ate part of his brain, leaving him with such severe symptoms he thought he had a brain tumor.
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The Vanity Fair article included a photo of Kennedy standing by what appears to be a barbecued dog. He reportedly sent the photo to a friend while recommending a Korean restaurant that serves dog. On the podcast, Kennedy refuted that claim, saying he was actually “eating a goat in Patagonia on a whitewater trip many years ago.”
Vanity Fair also details claims made by Eliza Cooney, who babysat Kennedy’s children 25 years ago, when she was 23. Cooney alleges that Kennedy groped her without consent and acted inappropriately, showing up shirtless in her doorway, wanting her to rub lotion on his back.
Cooney, now 48, recalled feeling “frozen” and “shocked” by what happened. Both the #MeToo movement and Kennedy’s presidential run made her break her silence, she said.
When asked on the “Breaking Points” podcast about Cooney’s allegations, Kennedy replied, “I’ve said this from the beginning. I am not a church boy. I am not running like that.” The candidate admitted he had “a very, very rambunctious youth,” pointing out, “I said in my announcement speech that I have…so many skeletons in my closet, that if they could all vote, I could run for king of the world.”
Instead of addressing the assault allegations, Kennedy said, “Vanity Fair is recycling 30-year-old stories, and I, you know, am not gonna comment on the details of any of them.” The magazine, he added, had “joined the ranks of supermarket tabloids.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Possibly Replacing Biden
On the podcast, Kennedy admitted that “the best path for me to the White House is through the Democratic Party.” If Biden were to step aside, Kennedy added, he would “certainly…consider” taking his place on the ticket, calling it “probably…the best choice for everybody.”