Kennedy's Whale Head Incident Sparks Legal Inquiry

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former independent presidential candidate and nephew of the 35th U.S. President, is once again in the public eye. This time, attention has shifted to a resurfaced 2012 interview detailing an unusual incident involving a whale's head.

According to the account shared by Kennedy's daughter in Town & Country magazine, Kennedy reportedly used a chainsaw to remove a whale's head from a carcass that had washed ashore on Squaw Island near Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. The family then transported the head on their minivan's roof for a five-hour journey to Mount Kisco, New York.

This revelation has prompted the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund to request an investigation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The environmental group is concerned that Kennedy's actions may have violated several wildlife protection laws, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Lacey Act.

"There are good reasons why it is illegal for any person to collect or keep parts of any endangered species. Most importantly, vital research opportunities are lost when individuals scavenge a wildlife carcass and interfere with the work of scientists."

The incident adds to a series of controversies surrounding Kennedy. In recent months, he admitted to leaving a dead bear cub in New York's Central Park in 2014 and claimed that doctors discovered a parasitic worm in his brain in 2010. These events, combined with his recent campaign suspension and endorsement of a Republican candidate, have kept Kennedy in the headlines.

The whale head story has raised questions about potential legal implications. The Marine Mammal Protection Act, enacted in 1972, and the Endangered Species Act, passed in 1973, both prohibit the possession of protected animal parts. Additionally, transporting such items across state lines could violate the Lacey Act, one of the oldest wildlife conservation laws in the United States.

Kennedy's campaign has faced other challenges, including sexual assault allegations. In response to various controversies, Kennedy stated on a podcast, "I've said this from the beginning: I am not a church boy. I have so many skeletons in my closet that if they could all vote, I could run for king of the world."

As of August 2024, neither Kennedy nor NOAA have responded to requests for comment on the whale head incident or the potential investigation. The situation continues to evolve, highlighting the intersection of politics, environmental law, and public scrutiny in the United States.