RFK Jr. Under Federal Probe for Alleged Whale Decapitation

Federal authorities have initiated an investigation into Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding an alleged incident from approximately 20 years ago involving the decapitation of a whale carcass. The former presidential candidate, who recently ended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump, disclosed this information during a rally in Glendale, Arizona on September 16, 2024.

Kennedy asserted that the National Marine Fisheries Service had contacted him about the incident, characterizing the inquiry as "the weaponization of our government against political opponents." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees the fisheries service, confirmed the existence of an ongoing investigation but refrained from providing further details, citing longstanding policy.

The incident in question came to light in 2012 when Kennedy's daughter, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, shared a childhood memory in a Town & Country magazine interview. She recounted her father using a chainsaw to remove the head of a beached whale, subsequently transporting it home atop their family vehicle.

: "Every time we accelerated on the highway, whale juice would pour into the windows of the car, and it was the rankest thing on the planet. We all had plastic bags over our heads with mouth holes cut out, and people on the highway were giving us the finger, but that was just normal day-to-day stuff for us."

This alleged action potentially violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which safeguards whales and other marine mammals in U.S. waters. The act prohibits the possession of marine mammal parts without proper authorization, with violations potentially resulting in significant fines and legal consequences.

The investigation was reportedly prompted by the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, a non-profit organization known for its environmental advocacy. Brett Hartl, the group's national political director, criticized Kennedy's alleged actions as "both bizarre and illegal," emphasizing that an environmental attorney should be aware of such regulations.

In response to the investigation, Kennedy accused NOAA of harming wildlife through "giant offshore wind farms off the East Coast," highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the environmental impact of such installations.

This incident follows a previous controversy where Kennedy admitted to disposing of a dead bear's body in New York City's Central Park over a decade ago, an action he described as a prank at the time.

As the scion of a prominent political family and a former presidential candidate, Kennedy's legal troubles have attracted significant attention. The investigation underscores the complex intersection of environmental law, political dynamics, and public scrutiny faced by high-profile individuals in the United States.