'You're a charlatan!' Dem senator fires back at RFK Jr. in heated exchange at hearing

Sen Maria Cantwell (D-WA) fired back at Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Thursday after being interrupted by the Trump appointee during a high-stakes hearing at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., deriding him as a "charlatan."

“You cancelled $500 million in research [on] mRNA technology, [which] is about continuing the research to be ready for the next flu influenza, the next pandemic…” Cantwell said, before being interrupted by RFK Jr.

“You're so wrong on your facts!” RFK Jr. shouted, visibly frustrated.

“You're interrupting me, and sir, you're a charlatan, that's what you are!” Cantwell fired back. “You're the ones who conflate chronic disease with the need for vaccines! The history of the vaccines is very clear.”

RFK Jr. is testifying before the Senate Finance Committee Thursday in a high-profile hearing that comes in the wake his firing of Susan Monarez, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has erupted a firestorm at the agency, sparking walkouts and calls for RFK Jr.’s resignation or firing.

His tenure as HHS secretary has been controversial among health experts and Democratic lawmakers, in large part due to his history of promoting thoroughly debunked theories on vaccines, notably that they cause autism.

Infographics in hand, Cantwell went on to point to data showing the effectiveness of vaccines over the past century in eradicating disease, and accused RFK Jr. of “perpetuating hoaxes” at the expense of public health.

“You're taking away the science and technology that has made us the leader that has saved, according to the first Trump administration surgeon general, millions of lives!” Cantwell said. “And you don't want to keep that going! So no, I don't support your continued efforts as secretary, and I definitely think that our colleagues need to rally around science.”

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