Health Secretary RFK Jr. is facing allegations that he violated the Hatch Act by attempting to influence Libertarian candidates in competitive Iowa congressional races. A senior Senate Democrat has reportedly requested an investigation, adding to scrutiny over the Trump administration’s midterm election strategy.
Ron Wyden wants investigators to examine RFK Jr.’s calls to Iowa Libertarian candidates, claims report
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon’s complaint to the U.S. Office of the Special Counsel targets Kennedy’s outreach to Marco Battaglia and Rick Stewart. They are two Libertarian hopefuls whose campaigns threatened to draw votes from Republican candidates in districts critical to midterm control. The Hatch Act bars federal employees from engaging in certain political activities while serving in their official roles.
“Kennedy has spent sixteen months using his official position to undermine the health and well-being of his fellow Americans, and now he is using his official position to undermine the integrity of democratic elections too,” Wyden said in a statement (via Associated Press). His Finance Committee post grants him oversight of the health agencies Kennedy now leads.
The White House has seemed to deploy Kennedy to swing districts nationwide as a surrogate promoting healthier lifestyles. Yet Wyden argues the cabinet secretary improperly leveraged his position when contacting the Iowa candidates in June.
Stephanie Berlin, chair of the Libertarian Party of Iowa, recorded Kennedy’s conversation with Stewart. The audio reportedly has Kennedy offering to become Stewart’s “liaison with the White House” while suggesting they could reach an arrangement.
“I can’t go into specifics because, you know, there’s legal prohibitions about that,” Kennedy allegedly told Stewart, who remains on the ballot for Iowa’s 2nd congressional district. Battaglia lost his spot on the 3rd district ballot after Republicans challenged his paperwork; both cases face appeals.
Berlin viewed the exchange as dangerously close to an illicit bargain. Stewart himself acknowledged to the outlet that Kennedy clearly sought his exit but likely “did his best to stay on the correct side of the law.”
Wyden drew no such distinction, labelling RFK Jr.’s offer of potential federal employment an illegal quid pro quo and demanding accountability.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
