Kerry Kennedy rebukes brother RFK Jr. after he linked Covid-19 and Jewish people

WASHINGTON — Kerry Kennedy, a sister of Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., lambasted her brother in a brief statement Monday after a report that quoted him as saying Covid-19 was “targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people” and that Jewish people are most immune.

“I strongly condemn my brother’s deplorable and untruthful remarks last week about Covid being engineered for ethnic targeting,” Kerry Kennedy said in a statement released by the non-profit group Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights where she serves as president.

“His statements do not represent what I believe or what Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights stand for, with our 50+-year track record of protecting rights and standing against racism and all forms of discrimination,” she added.

On Saturday, the New York Post published an article that included a video that appeared to show Kennedy speaking at a dinner in Manhattan about bioweapons and “ethnically targeted microbes” in which he claimed that “Covid-19 attacks certain races disproportionately.”

“Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese,” he said, according to the video published by the Post. “We don’t know whether it was deliberately targeted that or not.” An overwhelming portion of American Jews are Ashkenazi Jews, who are descended from Jews who lived in Central and Eastern Europe.

NBC News has not verified the video. In a statement posted to Twitter later in the day, Kennedy defended his remarks, saying they were not anti-Semitic.

Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., also weighed in on Monday, tweeting that he condemns his uncle’s remarks.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been repeatedly criticized for pushing conspiracy theories, including about vaccines.

Kerry Kennedy, the 63-year-old sister of RFK Jr., also blasted her 69-year-old brother when he launched his presidential bid in April.

“I love my brother Bobby, but I do not share or endorse his opinions on many issues, including the COVID pandemic, vaccinations, and the role of social media platforms in policing false information,” she said at the time. “It is also important to note that Bobby’s views are not reflected in or influence the mission or work of our organization.”

Other members of their family have also rebuked the presidential hopeful over the conspiracy theories about vaccines and misinformation he has spread for years.