The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has initiated an investigation into former Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for an alleged incident involving the decapitation of a dead whale approximately 20 years ago. The controversy emerged following statements made by Kennedy's daughter, Kick Kennedy, in a resurfaced 2012 Town and Country interview, where she disclosed that her father had used a chainsaw to behead a washed-up whale. It was reported that Kennedy then affixed the whale's head to his car and transported it to New York.
In her account of the event, Kick Kennedy described the experience as mundane within her family dynamics. She recounted how, during the journey, whale fluids would seep into the car through the windows, creating a pungent odor. To cope with the situation, the family members resorted to placing plastic bags over their heads with holes for breathing, while facing disapproving gestures from other motorists on the highway.
NOAA, when approached for comment, adhered to its policy of refraining from discussing ongoing investigations. Kennedy himself acknowledged the investigation during a recent campaign event for former President Donald Trump, characterizing it as a politically motivated attack by the government.
Following these revelations, the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund urged NOAA to probe the incident detailed by Kennedy's daughter. The organization, which had previously endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race, alleged that Kennedy's actions violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, both of which safeguard whales under federal law.
