An audio recording reveals Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured an Iowa congressional candidate to withdraw from the 2nd District race to protect Republican House control.
Obtained by The Washington Post, the recording exposes the conversation between the Health Secretary and Libertarian congressional candidate Rick Stewart.
On the June 11 call, Kennedy told Stewart he was acting as a White House "liaison" and warned that a Democratic House takeover would derail President Donald Trump's agenda, according to reports.
"I can't go into specifics because there's legal prohibitions about that," Kennedy said.
"He was very careful about the words that he used, but the whole implication is: You help us, we'll help you," Stewart said, and added he refused to drop out of the race.
Kennedy made a similar unrecorded appeal to Libertarian Marco Battaglia in Iowa's 3rd District on June 8, according to Des Moines Register.
Battaglia also rejected.
Government ethics experts explained the recording raises concerns Kennedy may have violated federal law, potentially violating the Hatch Act or criminal statutes barring officials from interfering with elections.
Kennedy declined to comment and referred the Washington Post to his spokesperson, who also did not respond.
Watch the video below.