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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Recent findings reveal that a letter advocating for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services consists of endorsements from several physicians whose medical licenses have been revoked, suspended, or otherwise sanctioned. This information has come to light through a report by The Associated Press.
The letter was intended to lend support to Kennedy’s controversial nomination, which has encountered significant backlash from the medical community, largely due to his long history of anti-vaccine rhetoric. Among those expressing caution regarding Kennedy’s nomination is Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a medical practitioner himself, who is noted for his efforts to immunize thousands of children against hepatitis B.
The Associated Press’s review showed that many of the nearly 800 signatories of the letter are not medical doctors. The documentation was provided by Senator Ron Johnson’s office during the initial hearing concerning Kennedy’s confirmation.
Among the signatories were individuals with diverse backgrounds, including journalists, accountants, and healthcare coaches, in addition to nurses and physician assistants. Significantly, a portion of the signers—over 90—did not include any substantiating medical credentials.
The letter also featured support from chiropractors, a group that has historically backed Kennedy’s initiatives. An AP investigation previously indicated that contributions from chiropractic associations amounted to a significant portion of the funding for Kennedy’s anti-vaccine organization as of 2019.
The letter was orchestrated by MAHA Action, led by Del Bigtree, a known anti-vaccine figure and a member of Kennedy’s campaign team. It was reported by the Washington Post that Kennedy had transferred the trademark of the “MAHA” initiative to a Bigtree-controlled company. Kennedy has stated that he received $100,000 from this arrangement and maintains that the trademark was transferred without compensation.
MAHA stands for “Make America Healthy Again,” drawing inspiration from President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan.
In a statement, Emma Post, a representative from MAHA Action, said that the letter was disseminated in a grassroots manner, intended specifically for physicians. However, she did not elaborate on whether the organization verified the credentials of those who signed.
Neither Bigtree nor Kennedy responded to requests for comment, while White House spokesperson Kush Desai expressed anticipation for a prompt Senate confirmation of Kennedy.
The letter was labeled “ Doctors for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ” and claimed to represent the opinions of a collective of medical professionals addressing chronic diseases.
The analysis by the AP unveiled that at least ten physicians who endorsed the letter had faced disciplinary actions, including license revocations and suspensions, due to various misconduct allegations. One doctor received a warning from the Federal Trade Commission regarding misleading advertisements for COVID-19 treatments.
Among the notable signers was Paul Thomas, an anti-vaccine advocate who surrendered his medical license after findings of gross negligence.
Further, Dr. Simone Gold faced disciplinary action from California’s medical board related to her misdemeanor plea stemming from her actions on January 6, 2021. Following a pardon from Trump, Gold asserted that her reprimand had been overturned.
Meryl Nass, whose medical license was suspended in Maine, also supported Kennedy and indicated that she was seeking to challenge the suspension.
At least two doctors had prior issues related to immunization waivers before the pandemic, including incidents resulting in one losing their license entirely.
Post claimed that MAHA Action’s letter was among several supporting Kennedy, including a separate letter boasting “17,000 medical professionals” as signatories, which did not disclose individual names.
In response, opponents of Kennedy have organized their own letter, purportedly signed by over 18,000 “vetted and verified” physicians. The Committee to Protect Health Care reported checking credentials during their verification process and anonymized their list for privacy and safety concerns, providing only initials and medical qualifications.
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