House Democrats stepped up criticism this week ahead of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s testimony before the Republican-led House Federal Weaponization Subcommittee.
California Democrat Rep. Mark Takano told Fox News Digital, “He made some very disturbing statements about the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on whites and African Americans, and also claimed that it seemed to be specifically… targeted.” “Certain people like Asians and Ashkenazi Jews are somehow more immune. These are all very dubious claims.”
“I question the judgment of the Republican leadership in inviting him to The Hill as a credible witness. I just don’t think it perpetuates more misinformation and moves our country forward,” he said.
Takano was part of a group of House Democrats who called on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) and Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to withdraw President Kennedy’s invitation after comments surfaced in the New York Post video. The video showed a leading 2024 presidential candidate suggesting that “COVID-19 is unfairly attacking certain races” and that “Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese are the most immune.”
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House Democrats have removed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (middle) as a credible hearing witness. (Getty Images/Fox News Digital)
Kennedy, who is challenging President Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, was accused of anti-Semitism by Democrats, including Biden’s allies, on the Capitol before his testimony scheduled for Thursday. He plans to testify against accusations that the Biden administration colluded with social media companies to censor speech, including during the pandemic.
California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell said, “Chairman McCarthy loves to tweet about Israel and how anti-Semitism doesn’t belong in Congress.” “He is bringing anti-Semitism into Congress by allowing RFK Jr. to attend on Thursday. Responsible action is not to give him such a platform.”
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He added: “What RFK is doing with regards to medical care and anti-Semitic comments is only harmful. It doesn’t serve any purpose and he doesn’t need to be here in the Capitol.”
Rep. Mark Takano is one of a group of Democrats who wrote to Republican leadership to withdraw the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. witness testimony. (FOX News Digital/Elizabeth Elkind)
Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, told Fox News Digital, “I strongly disagree with what he’s been suggesting for a long time. I think his remarks about race were insane these days… There’s not a lot of evidence to support his position, that’s for sure.”
But Neal added that Republicans “can choose who will be witnesses, and they call it free speech.”
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Democratic freshman Rep. Jeff Jackson of North Carolina laughed when asked about Republicans’ invitation to Kennedy for Thursday’s hearings.
“I think it’s going to be interesting, and it will probably contain some misinformation,” Jackson said.
Rep. Richard Neal has accused Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of spreading anti-Semitism in his recent comments about COVID-19 and ethnicity. (FOX News Digital/Elizabeth Elkind)
Some mocked his 2024 presidential campaign. When asked about his candidacy, Mr. Neal simply said, “I support Joe Biden.”
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When asked what he thought of Kennedy’s campaign, Takano replied, “Not very much.”
“I don’t think he’ll get very far, and I think the more people know about his sloppiness, his habit and tendency to spout unsubstantiated, mere insane claims that divide our country, I think it stands in stark contrast to the general way Joe Biden has walked as a Unifier,” he said.
When asked for comment by Fox News Digital, Kennedy’s campaign said it was ironic that Democrats objected to Kennedy’s remarks during the censorship hearing at the Capitol.
“How ironic that House Democrats are trying to censor testimony about censorship. Apparently, a form of censorship known as ‘deplatforming’ is extending its harmful tentacles into the U.S. Congress,” the campaign said.
