Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has revealed that federal authorities are investigating him for his involvement in collecting the head from a decapitated whale carcass.
During a campaign event on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, Kennedy—who recently endorsed Donald Trump after dropping out of the independent presidential race—stated, “I received a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Institute saying they are investigating me for collecting a whale specimen 20 years ago.”
He went on to describe the situation as “part of the weaponization of our government against political opponents.”
The investigation gained attention following the resurfacing of a 2012 interview in Town & Country where Kennedy’s daughter, Kick, recounted the incident. She described how a whale washed ashore near Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, prompting Kennedy to use a chainsaw to remove the whale’s head and transport it back to their home in Mount Kisco, New York, strapped to the roof of the family minivan.
Kick humorously detailed how “whale juice” leaked into the car during the journey, making the experience unbearable for the family.
The incident drew scrutiny from the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, which urged federal authorities to investigate Kennedy’s actions, citing possible violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. The environmental group called for Kennedy to surrender the whale skull and face potential civil or criminal penalties.
The ongoing investigation and these past admissions have reignited public scrutiny over Kennedy’s actions involving wildlife, as well as concerns about the politicization of government agencies.
This is a developing story, refresh for more updates.
