Robert F. Kennedy Jr. whale probe/ Kennedy whale investigation/ Kennedy dead whale incident/ Newslooks/ GLENDALE/ Ariz./ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is under federal investigation for allegedly removing a whale’s head two decades ago, a story recounted by his daughter. The National Marine Fisheries Service confirmed the probe but declined further details. Kennedy claims the investigation is linked to his endorsement of Donald Trump.
RFK Jr. Whale Incident Investigation Quick Looks
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is under federal investigation for allegedly decapitating a dead whale and taking its head home about 20 years ago.
- The incident resurfaced after his daughter recalled the event in a 2012 interview, which recently gained attention on social media.
- The National Marine Fisheries Service, which enforces marine protection laws, confirmed the investigation but declined to comment further.
- Kennedy revealed the investigation during a campaign event for Donald Trump in Glendale, Arizona.
- He suggested that the probe is politically motivated, possibly related to his endorsement of Trump.
- Kennedy dismissed questions from reporters, calling the investigation “gossipy nonsense.”
- The whale incident is the second bizarre animal-related story involving Kennedy, following his admission of leaving a bear carcass in Central Park.
Federal Investigation Launched Over RFK Jr.’s Whale Collection
Deep Look:
Federal authorities have launched an investigation into Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for allegedly cutting off the head of a dead whale and taking it home two decades ago. The National Marine Fisheries Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), confirmed the investigation, but details remain sparse due to their policy of not commenting on ongoing cases. The probe is said to be related to potential violations of federal laws such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.
The investigation was sparked by a story that resurfaced online, originally recounted by Kennedy’s daughter, Kathleen, in a 2012 Town and Country interview. She recalled that when she was just six years old, her father heard of a dead whale that had washed ashore. Armed with a chainsaw, Kennedy allegedly decapitated the whale and strapped the head to the roof of their family minivan for a five-hour journey home. Kathleen shared vivid details of the experience, describing how “whale juice” leaked into the car every time they accelerated, forcing the family to wear plastic bags with holes over their faces. Her recollection, both humorous and bizarre, went viral on social media recently, reigniting interest in the decades-old incident.
Kennedy, a former independent presidential candidate who recently endorsed Donald Trump, disclosed the investigation himself during a campaign stop outside Phoenix. Speaking to a crowd of Trump supporters in Glendale, Arizona, Kennedy said he received a letter notifying him of the investigation. “They are investigating me for collecting a whale specimen 20 years ago,” he told the audience. Without confirming whether or not he took the whale’s head, Kennedy claimed that the statute of limitations had long since passed and suggested the timing of the investigation might be politically motivated due to his support for Trump.
After his speech, Kennedy declined to provide further details when pressed by reporters, brushing off the investigation as “gossipy nonsense.” He expressed frustration with the media’s focus on such stories, stating, “I’m not interested in feeding that feature of the mainstream media.”
This is not the first time Kennedy has been linked to a strange animal-related story. Just last month, he revealed that he once retrieved a bear carcass killed by a motorist and left it in New York’s Central Park. The bear was found with a bicycle on top of it, sparking a city-wide mystery over a decade ago. These peculiar anecdotes have added an unusual layer to Kennedy’s public persona, already marked by his controversial stances on a variety of political issues.
As the investigation unfolds, it is unclear whether Kennedy will face any formal charges. The use of frozen marine specimens is tightly regulated by federal laws in the U.S., particularly concerning endangered species or protected animals like whales. Should the probe reveal a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it could lead to legal consequences, although Kennedy has already implied that any statute of limitations on potential charges has expired.
This strange chapter in Kennedy’s history adds to the colorful narrative surrounding his presidential bid and recent endorsement of Donald Trump. For now, the whale incident remains a peculiar footnote in his long career, but the federal investigation could draw further attention as authorities continue their inquiries.
