The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has launched an investigation into Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding a decades-old incident involving a dead whale carcass. The probe stems from allegations that Kennedy decapitated the whale and transported its head to his home nearly 20 years ago.
NOAA confirmed the investigation but declined to provide specific details, citing the agency’s policy of not commenting on ongoing investigations. The incident resurfaced after Kennedy suspended his presidential campaign in August and endorsed former President Donald Trump. Attention was drawn to a 2012 interview with Kennedy’s daughter, Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, where she described an episode in which her father allegedly used a chainsaw to remove the head of a dead whale on a Cape Cod beach and brought it to New York.
In the interview with Town & Country Magazine, Kick recalled, “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.” She also mentioned that her family members wore plastic bags over their heads to deal with the stench during the journey, which sparked curious reactions from people on the road. The story has since gained renewed attention on social media, prompting public scrutiny and calls for action.
The Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund urged NOAA to investigate whether Kennedy’s actions might have disrupted scientific research. Responding to the investigation, Kennedy clarified that he has never killed a whale and stated that the accusations were politically motivated.
During a campaign event for Donald Trump, Kennedy addressed the situation, saying, “I received a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Institute saying that they were investigating me for collecting a whale specimen 20 years ago. This is all about the weaponization of our government against political opponents.”
Kennedy and NOAA have not provided further comments, and the investigation is ongoing.
Has there ever been a presidential candidate with stories as wild as RFK Jr.’s?
