Whitehouse lone abstainer of Democrat panel statement demanding RFK, Jr resignation

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WLNE) — A group of U.S. Senate Democrats and one Independent signed a statement Thursday demanding the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, with Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse representing the lone abstainer from the group.

The senators from the Senate Finance Committee released a joint statement, saying in part:

Robert Kennedy was unfit to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services before he was on the job, which is why every Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee opposed his nomination. The actions Robert Kennedy has taken since he was sworn in reinforce the danger he poses to the health of America.

The statement went on to say:

Robert Kennedy must resign, and if he doesn’t, Trump should fire him before more American families are hurt by his reckless disregard for science and the truth.

When reached for comment on his decision to leave his signature off of the statement, Senator Whitehouse’s Communications Director Meaghan McCabe sent the following response from the senator:

I voted against Secretary Kennedy’s nomination. He never should have been confirmed.

The 12 senators who signed the statement include Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Senator Bernie Sanders (I) of Vermont and Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia.