RFK Jr. Muted During Congressional Hearing

WASHINGTON – Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. found himself in a somewhat awkward situation during a congressional hearing on Thursday. He requested that his aides discreetly inform him when to mute his microphone, especially when he wasn’t speaking.

At 71, Kennedy was being questioned by Senator Michael Bennett (D-Colo.) of the Senate Finance Committee when the interaction took a turn.

With a smile, Kennedy complied, pressing the button to silence his microphone.

“Can you give me your time, Chairman?” Bennett expressed frustration towards panel leader Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). “Thank you.”

Kennedy suffers from spasmodic dysphagia, a rare neurological disorder affecting his vocal cords and causing uncontrollable spasms.

This condition often results in an unstable voice, making it difficult for him to speak clearly. In a 2004 appearance on National Public Radio’s “Dian Rem Show,” he discussed the challenges, admitting, “I’m shaking at my voice… especially when I first started talking.”

In 2005, he mentioned that he receives Botox injections approximately every four months to help manage his vocal cord issues.

During a brief time as an independent presidential candidate in 2024, Kennedy shared that he had been dealing with this condition since the mid-1990s.

“I was making a lot of money doing public speaking and could fill large halls without amplification,” he reflected last year. “But when I was 42, I was hit by this illness. It really shakes my voice. I worry it’s going to be hard for people to listen to me. I can’t even stand to hear myself on TV.”

Some social media users echoed his concerns during the hearing.

“Anyone with a microphone is probably exhausted from hearing RFK Jr. breathing heavily during this hearing,” noted one user.

Another mentioned, “I’ve tried to pay attention, but RFK sounds out of breath even when he’s not talking.”