RFK Jr faces federal probe over 1994 whale beheading incident

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is currently under federal investigation for an incident dating back to 1994, where he allegedly beheaded a whale and transported its head from Massachusetts to New York. This investigation was prompted by a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Institute, which Kennedy disclosed during a campaign event in Glendale, Arizona. He claims that this scrutiny is part of a broader pattern of government weaponization against political adversaries. The controversy resurfaced following a 2012 interview with his daughter, Kick, who recounted the bizarre event of her father cutting off the whale's head with a chainsaw and transporting it in their family minivan. The incident drew attention from the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, which accused Kennedy of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act and potentially the Endangered Species Act. In their letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the environmental group urged federal authorities to investigate the matter and called for Kennedy to surrender any illegally obtained wildlife, including the whale skull. They emphasized the need for appropriate civil and criminal penalties due to Kennedy's actions, which they deemed reckless and in violation of crucial marine conservation laws. This investigation is not the first time Kennedy has faced backlash over animal-related incidents. Earlier in August, he admitted to dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park over a decade ago, which further fueled public scrutiny of his actions regarding wildlife and conservation laws.