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MUST-SEE: RFK Exposes Democrat For Being ‘Bought’ By Big Pharma Mid-Hearing

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What started as a routine budget hearing quickly turned into a fiery showdown on Capitol Hill Tuesday, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directly accused Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) of being “bought” by the pharmaceutical industry during a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The hearing, intended to focus on the fiscal year 2026 HHS budget, veered sharply into controversy as Kennedy confronted Pallone over his past advocacy for vaccine-injured individuals—and how, Kennedy alleged, that advocacy disappeared after big money donations rolled in.

“I’ll address you, Congressman Pallone,” Kennedy began. “Fifteen years ago, you and I met; you were at that time a champion for people who had suffered injuries from vaccines. You were very adamant about it. You were the leading member of Congress on that issue.”

Then, Kennedy dropped the bombshell.

“Since then, you’ve accepted $2 million from pharmaceutical companies in contributions,” Kennedy continued, “more than any other member of this committee, and your enthusiasm for supporting the old ACIP committee, which was completely rife and pervasive with pharmaceutical conflicts, seems to…”

At that moment, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) jumped in to cut him off, lodging a formal objection.

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“Mr. Chairman, point of order. The gentleman is impugning the reputation of a member of Congress,” DeGette insisted.

As the room spiraled into crosstalk, Chairman James Comer (R-KY) told Rep. Pallone, “You weren’t paying attention, that’s why.” Pallone, audibly irritated, fired back, “It’s hard to pay attention here when we’re not getting any response.”

Kennedy eventually withdrew the remarks after being scolded by committee leadership, but the damage was done, and the tension in the room didn’t go away.

Pallone responded later by accusing Kennedy of holding “dangerous” and “unscientific” views on vaccines and grilled him on dismantling the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the federal body that advises on vaccine guidelines.

“I do believe the secretary must appear here again very soon for an oversight hearing on the unprecedented and troubling chaos he’s created at the vaccine panel and its impacts on people’s access to life-saving vaccines,” Pallone added later on.

The exchange highlighted the sharp political divide over vaccine policy, transparency, and the reach of pharmaceutical lobbying. Kennedy, who has long been a critic of Big Pharma and the vaccine industry, now finds himself in a position of immense power.

As head of the HHS, Kennedy now oversees agencies like the CDC, NIH, and FDA—institutions he has previously criticized. At issue are not just spending levels but also decisions about disease prevention programs, pandemic preparedness, and medical research funding. Senators may also question whether Kennedy will continue longstanding vaccine initiatives or seek to change their scope.