Cassidy said he voted to confirm Kennedy because he received commitments that Kennedy would not change certain vaccine policies and guidance. For example, Cassidy said when announcing his vote, Kennedy pledged to maintain a federal vaccine advisory committee “without changes.” Once in office, Kennedy ousted all 17 members of the committee and named his own advisers.

Real Leopards Ate My Face material right there

Kennedy’s Samoa visit has become one of the most contentious events in his career. At the time, he was leading a nonprofit known for its anti-vaccine activism. Critics said the visit fueled anti-vaccine sentiment in Samoa, which later experienced the measles outbreak that killed 83 people, mostly children under 5.

And his drug-induced paranoia lead to a growing climate of anti-vax sentiment which resulted in the death of 83 people.