Senator Rips Into RFK Jr. — And Gets Him To Admit He Spread A Conspiracy Theory

LOADING ERROR LOADING It isn’t often that Sen. Michael Bennet raises his voice, but he sure did Wednesday while taking Robert Kennedy Jr. to task for some of the more outlandish conspiracy theories he’s spent a career breathing life into. “Out of 330 million Americans,” Bennet reflected, incredulously, “we’re being asked to put somebody in this job who has spent 50 years of his life peddling in half-truths, peddling in false statements, peddling in theories that create doubt about whether or not things we know are safe are unsafe.” Bennet opened his line of direct questioning with a doozy: “I’m asking you: Yes or no, did you say that COVID-19 was a genetically engineered bioweapon that targeted Black and white people but spared Jews and Chinese people?” Kennedy hedged, responding that he didn’t say that, he was just quoting a study that said it.. “I’ll take that as a yes,” Bennet said, then moved on: “Did you say that Lyme disease is highly likely a militarily engineered bioweapon?” Kennedy paused and conceded, “I probably did say that.” As he tried to temper the statement, Bennet drilled down: “I want all of our colleagues to hear it, Mr. Kennedy,” he said, raising his voice. “You said yes.” Sen. Michael Bennet winces Wednesday as he questions Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the Capitol in Washington. J. Scott Applewhite via Associated Press Moving along, the Colorado Democrat asked Kennedy if he’s ever said “that exposure to pesticides causes children to become transgender.” Kennedy said no, perhaps forgetting he’s absolutely made the claim. Bennet then referenced a section in one of Kennedy’s books, asking if he’d written “that African AIDS is an entirely different disease from western AIDS.” When Kennedy demurred with an “I’m not sure,” Bennet offered to provide the book to the committee chair.