NOAA Concludes Investigation into Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Over Whale Carcass Allegation

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has concluded its investigation into claims that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decapitated a dead whale carcass two decades ago. According to NOAA, the inquiry found no evidence to Support the allegation, effectively closing the case.

Last month, Kennedy stated during a campaign event in Arizona that he had received a notification from the National Marine Fisheries Service—a branch of NOAA—that he was under investigation for an incident he said occurred around 20 years ago. In that incident, Kennedy reportedly collected a dead whale’s remains and brought them home as a specimen.

A NOAA spokesperson told CNN that the agency’s Office of Law Enforcement found the allegations “unfounded” and had ended the investigation. No additional details were provided.

Stefanie Spear, representing Kennedy, expressed hope that the agency would now be able to direct its resources toward “the 109 Atlantic whale deaths since 2022 in proximity to offshore wind projects.” NOAA, however, maintains on its website that there is no known connection between large whale deaths and offshore wind developments.

The story of Kennedy’s encounter with the whale carcass reemerged after he recently halted his independent presidential run, choosing instead to endorse former President Donald Trump. This resurfacing was partly fueled by a 2012 interview in Town & Country magazine, where Kennedy’s daughter, Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, recalled her father using a chainsaw to remove the head of a dead whale on a Cape Cod beach and transporting it back to New York atop the family minivan.

Latest Petitions to Sign:

• Petition: Tell the UK to List Elephant Riding Under Harmful Animal Attractions Abroad
• Petition: Help Hold Hospital Accountable for Separating a Mother from Her Newborn Baby for Weeks
• Petition: Help Hold Horse Trainers Accountable for Abusing Horse
• Petition: Demand Justice for 54 Dogs Who Were Abandoned at a Dog Park
• Petition: Demand Accountability for Woman Who Killed About 50 Animals
• Petition: Tell the UK Government to Stop Cruel Chicken Handling Practices in Animal Agriculture
• Petition: Help Support Lab-grown Meat in the UK
• Petition: Help Remove Dams to Restore Wildlife, Ecosystem Health, and Indigenous Rights
• Petition: Justice for Community That Endured a Massive Chemical Cloud Raining Down Black Debris
• Petition: Call on Leaders in Hurricane-Prone States to Prioritize Solar Power

Related Content:

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Faces Investigation Over Decades-Old Whale Incident
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Admits to Dumping Bear Cub Carcass in New York’s Central Park
• Environmental Group Seeks Investigation Into RFK Jr.’s Alleged Whale Head Removal
• Alicia Silverstone’s Support for RFK Jr. Gets Cheesy Endorsement

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!