![A new Vanity Fair article is leveling accusations of sexual assault against Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. In addition, the article also accused Kennedy of sending a picture of himself eating a dog to a friend, an accusation he denies.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLEAN-APNewsRFKJR.Accusations_AP-Images_featuredImage_Wed-Jul-03-2024.jpg?w=1920)
RFK Jr. responds to new claims of sexual assault and eating dog
Wednesday
By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)
An exclusive Vanity Fair report published on Tuesday, July 2, made several claims against Independent presidential candidate Robert. F. Kennedy Jr. The article outlines allegations of sexual assault on his family babysitter to accusations of sending pictures of nude women to friends and sharing a photo of a barbecued dog carcass.
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Center 47%
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‘What in the …?’: Critics disgusted by RFK Jr. ‘barbecued’ dog allegations
Click to see story on Raw Story
RFK Jr. Doesn’t Deny Alleged Sexual Assault of Babysitter: ‘I Am Not a Church Boy’
Click to see story on RollingStone
‘What in the F’: RFK Jr. in photo with alleged ‘barbecued’ dog carcass disgusts critics
Click to see story on Alternet
RFK Jr.’s response to allegations of sexual assault: ‘I am who I am’
Click to see story on MSNBC
RFK Jr. Reportedly Shared Photos of Nude Women, BBQ’d Dog
Click to see story on The Daily Beast
RFK Jr. Has Unhinged Defense of Damning Sexual Assault Accusation
Click to see story on The New Republic
RFK Jr. Denies Allegations of Eating a Dog Amidst Sexual Assault Claims in Vanity Fair Exposé
Click to see story on The Daily Boulder
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RFK Jr pushes back on Vanity Fair, sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on BBC News
Robert F Kennedy Jr brushes off sexual assault allegation: ‘I am who I am’
Click to see story on The Guardian
Robert F Kennedy Jr reacts to bombshell allegations he sexually assaulted babysitter: ‘I am who I am’
Click to see story on Hindustan Times
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog while sidestepping sexual assault allegations in Vanity Fair article
Click to see story on CNN
Robert F Kennedy Junior says he has ‘skeletons in my closet’ after sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on ABC Australia
US election campaign: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reacts to allegation of sexual assault — “I am who I am”
Click to see story on Spiegel
RFK Jr. Responds to Dog-Eating Charge, Dodges on Past Sexual Assault Allegation: ‘I’m Not a Church Boy’
Click to see story on Mediaite
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RFK Jr. says he has ‘skeletons in my closet’ after sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on CTV News
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog while sidestepping sexual assault allegations in Vanity Fair article
Click to see story on KRDO
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog while sidestepping sexual assault allegations in Vanity Fair article
Click to see story on KIFI
RFK Jr. says it was a goat, not a dog in that Vanity Fair photo
Click to see story on The Hill
Robert Kennedy Jr. Acknowledges ‘Skeletons In My Closet’ Amid Sexual Assault Allegation: ‘I Am Not A Church Boy’
Click to see story on Benzinga
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sexual assault allegation: Everything we know
Click to see story on Newsweek
RFK Jr pushes back on Vanity Fair, sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on RNZ
RFK Jr. Shared Photos of Nude Women
Click to see story on Political Wire
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on KXAN
Former babysitter for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accuses him of sexual assault
Click to see story on NY1
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on WCBD
RFK Jr. denies report he ate a dog: ‘It’s a goat and you are what you eat’
Click to see story on NewsNation
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on BRPROUD
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on Fox8
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on WSPA
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on WATE
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on MYSTATELINE
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on PHL17
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Unsettling photo appears to show RFK Jr. with barbequed carcass of dog
Click to see story on New York Post
RFK Jr says he has ‘skeletons in my closet’ after sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on The Straits Times
Robert F Kennedy Jr accused of sexual assault in report
Click to see story on The West Australian
RFK Jr denies eating dog, dodges sex assault allegations
Click to see story on 9News
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Right
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Untracked Bias
‘I am not a church boy’: RFK Jr responds to sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on Otago Daily Times
US presidential candidate Kennedy responds to sexual assault accusation: I’m not a church boy
Click to see story on T24
Robert F Kennedy Jr accused of sexual assault in report
Click to see story on PerthNow
Kennedy Jr. is accused of committing sexual assault
Click to see story on Kristeligt Dagblad
RFK Jr. says he has ‘skeletons in my closet’ after sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on Blue Water Healthy Living
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., candidate for president of the United States He is accused of sexual abuse by a former worker in the United States
Click to see story on rpp.pe
RFK Jr. denies eating barbecued dog as weird picture of him with carcass emerges
Click to see story on Express US
Kennedy Jr. accused of sexual assault: “I have many skeletons in my closet
Click to see story on avisendanmark.dk
RFK Jr. Denies Vanity Fair’s Implication He Ate Dog Meat in Korea
Click to see story on scnr.com
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47 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
47
Leaning Left
14
Center
18
Leaning Right
6
Last Updated
3 days ago
Former Kennedy babysitter Eliza Cooney told Vanity Fair that Kennedy sexually assaulted her in 1998 when she was 23-years-old. She described an instance where he caressed her leg and another where groped and fondled her. She also said that Kennedy, who was 45 at the time, asked her to rub lotion on his back while he was shirtless.
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Cooney said she came close to publicizing her accusations against RFK Jr. in 2017 during the #MeToo Movement and again after he decided to run for president in 2023. Although she ultimately decided against a civil suit against Kennedy, she is sharing her story now.
The new report also alleged that Kennedy sent a picture of himself and a woman with a dog’s remains in Korea to a friend. Kennedy allegedly told the friend he should try dog while he’s in Asia. The friend told Vanity Fair that he found the picture insensitive to Korean culture and unsettling.
Kennedy also reportedly sent pictures of naked women to friends during his first marriage.
The accusations come at a time when the presidential race between President Joe Biden and former President Trump is heating up, just months ahead of the general election. RFK Jr. currently finds himself far behind the two front-runners. Polls show that he is hovering at 8.3% support among registered voters.
However, family members interviewed by Vanity Fair expressed fear that his run could cost President Biden the election.
Some family members reportedly pressured Kennedy to drop out of the race or wait until 2028 to run.
RFK Jr. responded to the allegations leveled in Vanity Fair in several interviews on Tuesday.
“The article is a lot of garbage. The picture that they said is of me eating a dog is actually me eating a goat in Patagonia on a whiteboard trip many years ago on the Futafeufu River,” Kennedy said during an interview with “Breaking Points.”
He also appeared on Fox News to address the controversial photo and accused Vanity Fair of false analysis.
“Vanity Fair said that they talked to veterinarians who assured them that it was a dog,” Kennedy said. “That they had meta-analysis that showed it was in Korea and it was in Korea of me eating a dog and that statement is emblematic of the entire article or the lack of journalistic standards throughout the article.”
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When pressed on the sexual assault allegations by “Breaking Points” he sidestepped the question. Kennedy simply said, “I’m not going to comment on it.”
Kennedy also said during his response that he is “no church boy” and that he has openly admitted to having “many skeletons” from his past.
[KARAH RUCKER]
AN EXPLOSIVE VANITY FAIR REPORT IS LEVELING SERIOUS CLAIMS AGAINST INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ROBERT F. KENNEDY JUNIOR.
FROM ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON HIS FAMILY BABYSITTER TO ACCUSATIONS OF SENDING PICTURES OF NUDE WOMEN TO FRIENDS AND SHARING AN UNSETTLING PHOTO OF A BARBECUED DOG CARCASS.
FORMER KENNEDY BABYSITTER ELIZA COONEY TOLD VANITY FAIR KENNEDY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER IN 1998 WHEN SHE WAS 23.
DETAILING AN INSTANCE WHERE HE CARESSED HER LEG AND ANOTHER WHERE HE GROPED AND FONDLED HER.
SHE EVEN CLAIMS KENNEDY, WHO WAS 45 AT THE TIME, ASKED HER TO RUB LOTION ON HIS BACK WHILE SHIRTLESS.
COONEY SAID SHE CAME CLOSE TO PUBLICIZING THE ACCUSATIONS IN 2017 DURING THE #METOO MOVEMENT AND AGAIN AFTER RFK JUNIOR ANNOUNCED HIS RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
THOUGH SHE ULTIMATELY DECIDED AGAINST A CIVIL SUIT, SHE IS SPEAKING OUT NOW.
THE NEW REPORT ALSO ALLEGES KENNEDY SENT A PICTURE OF HIMSELF AND A WOMAN WITH A DOG’S REMAINS IN KOREA TO A FRIEND– TELLING THE FRIEND HE SHOULD TRY DOG WHILE HE’S IN ASIA.
THE FRIEND SAID HE FOUND IT INSENSITIVE TO KOREAN CULTURE AND UNSETTLING.
KENNEDY ALSO REPORTEDLY SENT PICTURES OF NAKED WOMEN TO FRIENDS DURING HIS FIRST MARRIAGE.
THE EXPOSE COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE BETWEEN BIDEN AND TRUMP IS HEATING UP.
R-F-K JUNIOR FINDS HIMSELF FAR BEHIND THE TWO FRONTRUNNERS– POLLS SHOW HE’S HOVERING AROUND EIGHT PERCENT SUPPORT AMONG VOTERS.
FAMILY MEMBERS INTERVIEWED BY VANITY FAIR FEAR HIS RUN COULD COST BIDEN THE ELECTION.
SOME FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE REPORTEDLY PRESSURED KENNEDY TO DROP OUT OF THE RACE OR WAIT UNTIL 2028 TO RUN.
RFK JUNIOR IS RESPONDING TO THE ALLEGATIONS – APPEARING IN SEVERAL INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK.
[ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.]
THE ARTICLE IS A LOT OF GARBAGE. THE PICTURE THAT THEY SAID IS OF ME EATING A DOG IS ACTUALLY ME EATING A GOAT IN PATAGONIA ON A WHITEBOARD TRIP MANY YEARS AGO ON THE FUTALEUFU RIVER.
[KARAH RUCKER]
HE ALSO WENT ON FOX NEWS TO ADDRESS THE PICTURE CONTROVERSY– ACCUSING VANITY FAIR OF FALSE ANALYSIS.
[ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.]
VANITY FAIR SAID THAT THEY TALKED TO VETERINARIANS WHO ASSURED THEM THAT IT WAS A DOG. THAT THEY HAD META ANALYSIS THAT SHOWED IT WAS IN KOREA AND IT WAS IN KOREA OF ME EATING A DOG AND THAT STATEMENT IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE ENTIRE ARTICLE OR THE LACK OF JOURNALISTIC STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THE ARTICLE.
[KARAH RUCKER]
WHEN PRESSED ON THE SEXUAL ALLEGATIONS FROM HIS FORMER NANNY– HERE’S HIS RESPONSE.
[ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.]
I DO HAVE TO ASK. ARE YOU DENYING IT OR NOT?
I’M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON IT.
[KARAH RUCKER]
FOR MORE STORIES ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT SAN-DOT-COM.
Related
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below.
Learn more about this dataLeft 37%
Center 47%
Right 16%
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
+0
Click to close
‘What in the …?’: Critics disgusted by RFK Jr. ‘barbecued’ dog allegations
Click to see story on Raw Story
RFK Jr. Doesn’t Deny Alleged Sexual Assault of Babysitter: ‘I Am Not a Church Boy’
Click to see story on RollingStone
‘What in the F’: RFK Jr. in photo with alleged ‘barbecued’ dog carcass disgusts critics
Click to see story on Alternet
RFK Jr.’s response to allegations of sexual assault: ‘I am who I am’
Click to see story on MSNBC
RFK Jr. Reportedly Shared Photos of Nude Women, BBQ’d Dog
Click to see story on The Daily Beast
RFK Jr. Has Unhinged Defense of Damning Sexual Assault Accusation
Click to see story on The New Republic
RFK Jr. Denies Allegations of Eating a Dog Amidst Sexual Assault Claims in Vanity Fair Exposé
Click to see story on The Daily Boulder
Click to close
RFK Jr pushes back on Vanity Fair, sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on BBC News
Robert F Kennedy Jr brushes off sexual assault allegation: ‘I am who I am’
Click to see story on The Guardian
Robert F Kennedy Jr reacts to bombshell allegations he sexually assaulted babysitter: ‘I am who I am’
Click to see story on Hindustan Times
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog while sidestepping sexual assault allegations in Vanity Fair article
Click to see story on CNN
Robert F Kennedy Junior says he has ‘skeletons in my closet’ after sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on ABC Australia
US election campaign: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reacts to allegation of sexual assault — “I am who I am”
Click to see story on Spiegel
RFK Jr. Responds to Dog-Eating Charge, Dodges on Past Sexual Assault Allegation: ‘I’m Not a Church Boy’
Click to see story on Mediaite
Click to close
RFK Jr. says he has ‘skeletons in my closet’ after sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on CTV News
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog while sidestepping sexual assault allegations in Vanity Fair article
Click to see story on KRDO
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog while sidestepping sexual assault allegations in Vanity Fair article
Click to see story on KIFI
RFK Jr. says it was a goat, not a dog in that Vanity Fair photo
Click to see story on The Hill
Robert Kennedy Jr. Acknowledges ‘Skeletons In My Closet’ Amid Sexual Assault Allegation: ‘I Am Not A Church Boy’
Click to see story on Benzinga
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sexual assault allegation: Everything we know
Click to see story on Newsweek
RFK Jr pushes back on Vanity Fair, sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on RNZ
RFK Jr. Shared Photos of Nude Women
Click to see story on Political Wire
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on KXAN
Former babysitter for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accuses him of sexual assault
Click to see story on NY1
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on WCBD
RFK Jr. denies report he ate a dog: ‘It’s a goat and you are what you eat’
Click to see story on NewsNation
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on BRPROUD
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on Fox8
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on WSPA
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on WATE
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on MYSTATELINE
RFK Jr. denies eating a dog following bombshell Vanity Fair report
Click to see story on PHL17
Click to close
Unsettling photo appears to show RFK Jr. with barbequed carcass of dog
Click to see story on New York Post
RFK Jr says he has ‘skeletons in my closet’ after sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on The Straits Times
Robert F Kennedy Jr accused of sexual assault in report
Click to see story on The West Australian
RFK Jr denies eating dog, dodges sex assault allegations
Click to see story on 9News
Click to close
Far
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
‘I am not a church boy’: RFK Jr responds to sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on Otago Daily Times
US presidential candidate Kennedy responds to sexual assault accusation: I’m not a church boy
Click to see story on T24
Robert F Kennedy Jr accused of sexual assault in report
Click to see story on PerthNow
Kennedy Jr. is accused of committing sexual assault
Click to see story on Kristeligt Dagblad
RFK Jr. says he has ‘skeletons in my closet’ after sexual assault allegation
Click to see story on Blue Water Healthy Living
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., candidate for president of the United States He is accused of sexual abuse by a former worker in the United States
Click to see story on rpp.pe
RFK Jr. denies eating barbecued dog as weird picture of him with carcass emerges
Click to see story on Express US
Kennedy Jr. accused of sexual assault: “I have many skeletons in my closet
Click to see story on avisendanmark.dk
RFK Jr. Denies Vanity Fair’s Implication He Ate Dog Meat in Korea
Click to see story on scnr.com
Click to close
47 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
47
Leaning Left
14
Center
18
Leaning Right
6
Last Updated
3 days ago
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