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Mike Pence's attack on RFK Jr. is tied to Big Pharma money and false narratives

By ljdevon // 2025-01-29

• Mike Pence’s conservative advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom (AAF), is leading a campaign to block Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as HHS Secretary. • AAF has received significant funding from entities tied to Big Pharma, including a $100,000 donation from the Searle Freedom Trust, which is linked to Pfizer. • Health freedom advocates argue that AAF’s attacks on RFK Jr. are motivated by Big Pharma’s interests, particularly in vaccines and drug policies.

Pence and his Big Pharma puppet masters try to stop Kennedy confirmation to HHS

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepares for his confirmation hearing next Wednesday to become the next Secretary of Health and Human Services, a concerted opposition campaign has emerged, led by Mike Pence’s conservative advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom (AAF). The group, which has received substantial funding from entities tied to Big Pharma, including a $100,000 donation from the Searle Freedom Trust, is launching a six-figure ad campaign and media blitz to sway Republican senators against Kennedy’s nomination. The AAF’s tactics and ties to pharmaceutical giants have raised questions about the motivations behind the opposition and the broader implications for public health policy. AAF, led by President Tim Chapman and Board Chairman Marc Short, has released a letter to Republican senators outlining several “concerns” about RFK Jr.’s nomination, including his views on vaccines, psychedelics, and abortion. Chapman has been making media appearances to amplify these criticisms, while Pence penned an op-ed in the Washington Times urging the pro-life community to reject Kennedy. “Mike Pence’s establishment conservative group has multiple ties to Big Pharma, which inarguably poses the biggest threat to RFK Jr.,” said a source close to Kennedy. “Pence’s bizarre line of attack on Bobby fixated on abortion makes little sense because it is not an issue he will have any clear authority on.”

AAF’s ties to Big Pharma

The AAF’s financial ties to Big Pharma are raising eyebrows. The Searle Freedom Trust, which donated 100,000 to AAF in 2022, was created by Daniel C. Searle, the founder of the pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle. Over the past decade, the trust has given over 200 million in grants to various conservative groups. G.D. Searle, now part of Pfizer, has been involved in controversies, including the approval of artificial sweetener Aspartame, which faced criticism for its scientific integrity. Marc Short, AAF’s Board Chairman and Pence’s former chief of staff, had significant stock holdings in Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies while serving in the Trump administration. According to NPR, Short owned stock in Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Eli Lilly, and other companies involved in the federal Covid response, worth between 506,043 and 1.64 million. Short’s application for a certificate of divestiture was rejected due to logistical issues, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. AAF’s attacks on RFK Jr. include several false and misleading claims. For instance, the group asserts that RFK Jr. played a major role in halting measles vaccinations in Samoa, leading to the deaths of 83 people. However, the measles vaccine was suspended by the Samoan government in 2018 due to the incorrect preparation of MMR vaccines, which resulted in the deaths of two infants. The suspension lasted for 10 months, contributing to a significant drop in vaccination rates. Dr. Vinay Prasad, a prominent medical expert, highlighted that the outbreak was caused by a combination of factors, none of which included RFK Jr.’s involvement. RFK Jr. has consistently emphasized his commitment to transparency and rigorous scrutiny of vaccine data. “I’m not going to take away anybody’s vaccines,” Kennedy told NBC News. “People ought to have [a] choice, and that choice ought to be informed by the best information.” The opposition to RFK Jr.’s nomination by Mike Pence’s AAF is marred by conflicts of interest and misinformation. As the confirmation hearing approaches, the integrity of the process and the motivations behind the attacks will be under scrutiny. RFK Jr.’s emphasis on transparency, informed choice, and holistic approaches to health care offers a promising direction for the HHS, one that could challenge the status quo and address the chronic disease and mental health crises that mainstream medicine and Big Pharma have often exacerbated. The coming weeks will reveal whether these nuanced and evidence-based policies will prevail over the entrenched interests of pharmaceutical giants and their allies. Sources include: Brownstone.org NationalReview.com [PDF] Enoch, Brighteon.ai

Big Pharma misinformation accountability Pfizer Mike Pence Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slander conflict of interest vaccine truth evidence based policies The Searle Freedom Trust drug policies