Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, received $4m in book advances from allies within the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement over the past year, according to a new report. The advances were for upcoming books by Skyhorse Publishing, a publishing house owned by Tony Lyons, a friend of Kennedy Jr and president of the MAHA Center nonprofit. The payments were first reported by The New York Times on Wednesday.
Ethical Questions Surround RFK Jr Book Advances
According to a 2024 ethics filing, Kennedy Jr pledged: "I will not engage in writing, editing, marketing or promotional services for any of these books during government service." However, the recent $4m in advances from MAHA allies has raised questions about whether this pledge is being upheld. The payments come from Skyhorse Publishing, which has published several of Kennedy Jr's previous books, including The Real Anthony Fauci and The Wuhan Cover-Up.
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Financial Disclosures Reveal Additional Gifts
Kennedy Jr's 2026 financial disclosure forms, reviewed by The Guardian, also show that he accepted $126,500 worth of housing in Washington DC, at a "vacation home" owned by Gavin de Becker. De Becker, a security consultant and Kennedy Jr ally, also provided gifts including nearly $45,000 in roundtrip airfare to Greece and nearly $97,000 in roundtrip airfare to Fiji. The Wall Street Journal reports that de Becker owns a compound in Fiji.
MAHA Movement and Potential Conflicts
The MAHA movement, which Kennedy Jr has been associated with, aims to "tackle America's health crisis through education, investigation, innovation and action." The financial ties between Kennedy Jr and key figures in the movement, such as Tony Lyons, could present potential conflicts of interest given Kennedy Jr's role as health secretary. In addition to the book advances, de Becker donated at least $10m to Kennedy Jr's Super Pac in 2024, with $9.65m being reported.
| Source | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Skyhorse Publishing (Tony Lyons) | $4,000,000 | Book advances for upcoming books |
| Gavin de Becker | $126,500 | Housing in Washington DC |
| Gavin de Becker | $44,800 | Roundtrip airfare to Greece |
| Gavin de Becker | $96,700 | Roundtrip airfare to Fiji |
| Gavin de Becker | $10,000,000+ | Donation to Super Pac (2024) |
Key Takeaways
- RFK Jr received $4m in book advances from MAHA allies over the past year.
- The advances came from Skyhorse Publishing, owned by Tony Lyons, a close friend and MAHA Center president.
- Kennedy Jr's 2024 ethics pledge stated he would not engage in book-related services during government service.
- Financial disclosures reveal additional gifts worth over $260,000 from Gavin de Becker, including housing and airfare.
- The financial ties raise potential conflict of interest concerns given Kennedy Jr's role as health secretary.
FAQ
What are the RFK Jr book advances?
The RFK Jr book advances refer to $4 million in payments from Skyhorse Publishing, owned by Tony Lyons, for upcoming books. These advances were received over the past year and have raised ethical questions due to Kennedy Jr's role as health secretary.
Who is Tony Lyons and what is his connection to RFK Jr?
Tony Lyons is the owner of Skyhorse Publishing and a friend of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He is also the president of the MAHA Center, a nonprofit that aims to tackle America's health crisis. Lyons has published several of Kennedy Jr's books.
What other gifts did RFK Jr receive?
According to financial disclosures, RFK Jr received $126,500 worth of housing in Washington DC from Gavin de Becker, as well as nearly $45,000 in airfare to Greece and nearly $97,000 in airfare to Fiji. De Becker also donated at least $10 million to Kennedy Jr's Super Pac in 2024.
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