CNN
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Impartial presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has denied allegations made in a brand new Vainness Truthful report that he had beforehand eaten a canine whereas sidestepping accusations of sexual assault levied by a former nanny within the journal, saying, “I’m not a church boy.”
In an interview with the “Breaking Factors” political podcast launched Tuesday, Kennedy known as the Vainness Truthful article “a whole lot of rubbish” however acknowledged that his previous included “many skeletons in my closet.”
The article alleges that Kennedy texted a message to a good friend final 12 months that included {a photograph} that confirmed him pantomiming consuming a cooked animal carcass. Within the message, Kennedy reportedly beneficial the good friend strive consuming canine whereas touring in Korea. Vainness Truthful reported that the photograph’s digital metadata exhibits it was taken in 2010 and that the publication consulted with a veterinarian who mentioned the carcass within the photograph seemed to be a canine’s.
Kennedy mentioned the picture depicted him consuming a goat throughout a visit to South America.
“The article is a whole lot of rubbish. The image that they mentioned is of me consuming a canine, it’s really me consuming a goat in Patagonia on a whitewater journey a few years in the past on the Futaleufu River. They are saying … they’ve an knowledgeable that has recognized that as a canine carcass. It’s simply not true,” Kennedy mentioned.
The Vainness Truthful article additionally options Eliza Cooney, a former part-time babysitter who labored for Kennedy between 1998 and 1999, alleging that he groped her in his kitchen. Kennedy declined to instantly acknowledge the sexual assault accusation at first, as a substitute dismissing “the opposite allegations” as a part of a “very, very rambunctious youth.”
“I’ve mentioned this from the start. I’m not a church boy. I’m not operating like that. I mentioned … I had a really, very rambunctious youth. I mentioned in my announcement speech that I’ve … so many skeletons in my closet, that if they might all vote, I may run for king of the world,” Kennedy mentioned, including, “Vainness Truthful is recycling 30-year-old tales, and I, you recognize, am not gonna touch upon the small print of any of them.”
When requested instantly whether or not he denied sexually assaulting Cooney, Kennedy repeated, “I’m not going to touch upon it.”
In a social media publish later Tuesday, Kennedy shared the picture printed by Vainness Truthful of him allegedly holding a cooked canine and denied the photograph depicted him consuming a canine. He didn’t handle the sexual assault allegations within the publish.
“Hey @VanityFair, you recognize when your veterinary specialists name a goat a canine, and your forensic specialists say a photograph taken in Patagonia was taken in Korea, that you just’ve joined the ranks of grocery store tabloids,” Kennedy mentioned. “Maintain telling America that up is down if you’d like. I’ll preserve speaking about the truth that working households can’t afford homes or groceries as a result of our final two presidents went on a $14 trillion debt joyride, paid for by hard-working People.”
The accusations made within the Vainness Truthful article come at a attempting time for Kennedy’s marketing campaign as he seeks to develop his assist throughout the nation for his unbiased presidential bid. Kennedy is on the poll in seven states however is dealing with opposition from Biden allies looking for to dam his entry in a number of extra.
Latest polls have discovered Kennedy in a stagnant place towards Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential nominees, respectively. A CNN ballot launched Tuesday discovered Kennedy incomes 14% assist in a multi-candidate race, behind Trump (41%) and Biden (35%). These findings are roughly much like a CNN ballot launched in November that confirmed Kennedy taking 16% in contrast with 41% for Trump and 35% for Biden.
The unbiased candidate additionally faces an uphill battle in fundraising after bringing in $2.6 million to his marketing campaign in Might and spending $6.3 million as he burns by way of funds in his push for poll entry.
Kennedy’s marketing campaign has already weathered a collection of unconventional headlines. In Might, Kennedy detailed a medical abnormality he skilled in 2010 that he mentioned was brought on by a parasitic worm that entered his mind and died. Kennedy mentioned the worm prompted him to expertise “mind fog” and bother with “phrase retrieval and short-term reminiscence,” however added that the problem has been resolved.
