Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Apologizes Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

[Social Media]

 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has privately apologized to Eliza Cooney, a woman who has accused him of sexual assault. Despite stating that he does not recall the alleged incident, Kennedy expressed regret for any harm he might have caused, which he characterized as "inadvertent." This apology follows Cooney's detailed account of inappropriate behavior by Kennedy, which was published in Vanity Fair. Cooney's allegations include an incident in which Kennedy allegedly groped her in a pantry while she worked as his family's weekend nanny in the late 1990s. At the time of the alleged incident, Cooney was 23 years old, and Kennedy was 45, married, and the father of five children.

 

"I have no memory of this incident but I apologize sincerely for anything I ever did that made you feel uncomfortable or anything I did or said that offended you or hurt your feelings," Kennedy wrote in a text message sent to Cooney at 12:33 a.m. on July 4, two days after her accusations became public. "I never intended you any harm. If I hurt you, it was inadvertent. I feel badly for doing so." Kennedy further expressed a desire to apologize in person, although he acknowledged that such a meeting might not be possible. "If you feel comfortable, Id [sic] like to tell you this by phone, and preferably, face to face. I recognize that this might not be possible. I have no agenda for sending this text other than making the most sincere and ernest [sic] amends."

 

Despite Kennedy's apology, Cooney remains skeptical about his sincerity. In an interview with The Washington Post, Cooney, now 48, expressed disbelief that Kennedy claimed not to remember the incident and felt his efforts to contact her were more about damage control than genuine remorse. "It was disingenuous and arrogant," Cooney said of his message. "I’m not sure how somebody has a true apology for something that they don’t admit to recalling. I did not get a sense of remorse." Cooney was also disturbed by Kennedy’s suggestion that they meet in person, questioning, "Meet ‘face to face?’ What woman wants to do that?"

 

Kennedy, son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, is an independent candidate known for his conspiracist views and anti-vaccine activism. Despite his famous name, other prominent members of his family have disavowed his campaign, fearing it could divert crucial votes from President Biden in a close election. National polls indicate that about 9 percent of registered voters support Kennedy’s candidacy.

 

After Cooney's story appeared in Vanity Fair, Kennedy made two phone calls to her on July 3 and sent her a text message asking her to call him. He followed up with his apology text shortly after midnight. Cooney, who had not been in contact with Kennedy for years, was unsure how he obtained her number and has not responded to his calls and messages. Kennedy declined to elaborate on his message to Cooney when contacted by The Washington Post, stating, "The text message speaks for itself."

 

Cooney recounted several incidents of inappropriate behavior by Kennedy during her time working for his family. She described an episode where Kennedy ran his hand up and down her leg under a table, despite her efforts to bat his hand away. Another time, he appeared shirtless in her room with a bottle of body lotion, asking her to rub it into his back. The most egregious incident, according to Cooney, occurred in the pantry when Kennedy approached her from behind, placed his hands on her hips, and ran his hands up her body. This incident was interrupted by a man working on renovations in the house who made his presence known to Kennedy.

 

Despite these experiences, Cooney continued to work for Kennedy for several months and remained at the environmental litigation clinic he led at Pace Law School for a few years. She ultimately decided against pursuing a career in environmental law, partly due to her negative experiences with Kennedy. Cooney shared her story with her mother for the first time amid the #MeToo movement, and her mother described it as "horrifying to hear about, especially with your own child."

 

Elizabeth Geddes, a former federal prosecutor consulted by Cooney, stated that the unwanted touching Cooney described constituted sexual assault but that the criminal statute of limitations had passed. Cooney was eligible to bring a civil complaint under New York state’s Adult Survivors Act but chose not to due to concerns about the costs and duration of a lawsuit and potential blowback.

 

Geddes criticized Kennedy’s direct approach to contacting Cooney, stating, "This is something that perhaps might make an offender feel better about doing it. But it’s hard to imagine that an apology such as this could provide any closure or other solace to somebody who was sexually assaulted in the workplace."

 

Credit: Washington Post 2024-07-13

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[impulse]

Waited almost 30 years, until an election year.

 

How convenient.  And familiar.

 

[Cryingdick]

I wish they would put the worms back in his brain and let it finish its meal. 

[Tug]

45 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

I wish they would put the worms back in his brain and let it finish its meal. 

His brain was to toxic it killed the worm lol 😂 

[spidermike007]

This guy is just plain nuts. Not your typical Kennedy. He seems to be missing some elements in his brain. 

[zepplin]

He does seem the only guy that really understands the problems facing American and has the intelligence and desire to tackle the problems head on , I think he would make a fantastic president, way better than dictator drump and sleepy Joe !

[thesetat2013]

This is the time of year women like the most. They can make all the allegations they want to and the men must pay or prove innocence. Either way, if it goes public it become scandal and hurts their chances to be elected. 

On the other hand, this is a great tactic to get yourself a win of you can find someone willing to come forward with this type of allegation against your opponent. Truth and fact are irrelevant as the damage to their credentials becomes obvious. Who is to say there is reality when a woman makes such a claim during an election year? As someone else pointed out. If it happened many years ago, why wait until the election year to make such claims? It is done for monetary or political reasons only. 

They should make the laws to have a statute of limitations on how long they have to make such allegations. 

[john donson]

30 years later , suddenly when he could be a late president candidate...

 

he can claim the brain worm make him forget

 

but at least, he did more for children's rights than any politician EVER

 

call him whatever you want...

[impulse]

4 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

I wish they would put the worms back in his brain and let it finish its meal. 

 

Regardless of how you feel about the guy, all the Dems would have had to do is allow him to primary fair and square.  He would have been trounced, and unable to set up a run as an Independent.

Instead, the Dems forced him to go into the spoiler mode.  And now, the dirty tricks...  But he'll still pull votes from whoever the Dem elite decide to run.

 

[jippytum]

Bet he's not dragged into court like Trump

[Tug]

19 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Bet he's not dragged into court like Trump

Ahh he didn’t commit any crimes unlike trump

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, zepplin said:

He does seem the only guy that really understands the problems facing American and has the intelligence and desire to tackle the problems head on , I think he would make a fantastic president, way better than dictator drump and sleepy Joe !

I do think he's very intelligent, and I do think he has something to say, but there's two issues with him that I have. Number one I think he's a little bit unhinged mentally, and number two he would need to fix his voice. From what I understand two minor Botox treatments is all that he would need to correct the throat ailment that he has, at least temporarily. His voice would be absolutely normal, but he's so ideological he absolutely refuses to do that.

 

I cannot listen to him for even 2 minutes with that voice of his, so that I think is a very big consideration in terms of electability. 

[jippytum]

4 minutes ago, Tug said:

Ahh he didn’t commit any crimes unlike trump

You would you say the same about Clinton? 

Trump trial was a witchhunt. 

[AgMech Cowboy]

Wow..  I'm shocked at the replies.  I think Mr. Kennedy responded in a kind and very mature way.

 

Why do you people believe this woman, but not Tara Reade, who accused Sen. Joe Biden of sexually harassing and assaulting her in 1993?  Those of you who denigrated Kennedy are pathetic, sycophants for P. J. Biden.

[Tug]

11 minutes ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

Wow..  I'm shocked at the replies.  I think Mr. Kennedy responded in a kind and very mature way.

 

Why do you people believe this woman, but not Tara Reade, who accused Sen. Joe Biden of sexually harassing and assaulting her in 1993?  Those of you who denigrated Kennedy are pathetic, sycophants for P. J. Biden.

I agree that Mr Kennedy responded in an appropriate mature and correct manner.as far as the reade woman she has a history of being nuttey she’s a known opportunist.

[Task Master]

A Kennedy involved in sexual assault? Wow, who could have seen that coming? It's not like there's a family tradition or anything.