Mike Pence's conservative organization urges Republicans to reject RFK Jr. nomination

A conservative group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence is calling for senators to vote against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Health and Human Services secretary due to his past support for abortion.

In a letter to U.S. senators, the conservative advocacy group Advancing American Freedom (AFF) criticized Kennedy Jr. as being “pro-abortion" and professed skepticism of his recent "overtures to pro-life leaders."

“There is little reason for confidence at this time,” the AAF wrote in the letter, adding that whoever is appointment as HHS secretary "must have a firm commitment to protect unborn children."

News of the letter, signed by AAF President Tim Chapman and Chairman Marc Short, was first reported by Daily Wire.

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President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Health and Human Services secretary, Kennedy, Jr. has been a controversial choice to head the HHS, which oversees agencies handling food and drug safety, disease epidemics and health insurance.

While even Pence himself has opposed Kennedy Jr.'s nomination on anti-abortion grounds, others have pushed back on Kennedy Jr.'s record of questioning the efficacy of vaccines and the origin of COVID-19. He's also spread unfounded claims about a link between childhood vaccines and autism, and he proposed controversial moves like the removal of fluoride from drinking water.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 9, the day of the State Funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 9, the day of the State Funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington.

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Pence and conservative group have opposed Kennedy Jr. before

The AAF's letter represents Pence and his organization's second attempt to prevent Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation. Shortly after Trump announced Kennedy’s nomination in November, Pence released a statement taking specific issue with Kennedy Jr.'s views on abortions that take place later in women's pregnancies.

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Kennedy Jr, who worked as an environmental attorney for decades before running for president last year and endorsing Trump after dropping out, initially said the terminations of those pregnancies should be up to pregnant women rather than judges or bureaucrats.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead HHS, arriving to meet with several Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead HHS, arriving to meet with several Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

The controversial candidate has also previously said abortion should be legal until a fetus "is viable outside the womb" and supports the codification of Roe v. Wade, which was replaced by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Dobbs decision.

If confirmed to run the nation’s top health agency, Kennedy Jr. would be tasked with enforcing Trump's policies on abortion access.

"I believe the nomination of RFK Jr. to serve as Secretary of HHS is an abrupt departure from the pro-life record of our administration and should be deeply concerning to millions of Pro-Life Americans who have supported the Republican Party and our nominees for decades," Pence said in a statement at the time.

Kennedy Jr. under fire for vaccine stance

Those in Pence's organization aren't the only ones pushing back on Kennedy Jr.'s potential confirmation.

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In December, 77 Nobel laureates came out to urge the Senate to vote down Kennedy Jr., pointing to his views against vaccines and fluoride in drinking water. The letter, published by the New York Times, said putting Kennedy Jr. in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, would “put the public’s health in jeopardy.”

The authors pointed to Kennedy Jr.’s opposition to vaccines for the measles, mumps, rubella and polio. Kennedy Jr. is also a leading proponent of the discredited theory that childhood vaccines cause autism.

Contributing: Erin Mansfield, Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pence's organization urges senators to reject RFK Jr. nomination