RFK Jr received $4m in book advances from Maha allies over past year
In 2024 ethics filing, US health secretary pledged to ‘not engage in writing, editing, marketing or promotional services for any of these books during government service’
TL;DR
- Robert F Kennedy Jr received $4 million in book advances from allies within the Make America Healthy Again movement.
- The advances are for upcoming books by Skyhorse Publishing, owned by Tony Lyons, a friend of Kennedy Jr and president of the Maha Center.
- Kennedy Jr pledged not to engage in writing, editing, marketing, or promotional services for these books during government service.
- Financial disclosures show Kennedy Jr accepted housing in Washington DC from ally Gavin de Becker.
- De Becker also provided Kennedy Jr with significant gifts, including roundtrip airfare to Greece and Fiji.
- Gavin de Becker has donated at least $10 million to Kennedy Jr's Super Pac and published a book with Skyhorse Publishing.
- Kennedy Jr's wife, Cheryl Hines, accepted consultation fees from Maha Action, a group also led by Lyons.
- An HHS spokesperson stated Kennedy Jr complies with all applicable federal ethics laws and requirements.
- Gavin de Becker described Kennedy Jr as a close friend and expressed gratitude for hosting him.
- Ethics counsel emphasizes the need for full transparency regarding gifts from major political donors.