Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confronted with a number of his baseless claims and a vexing abortion issue. But Republican senators treaded lightly.

During confirmation hearings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard faced tough senate scrutiny on their controversial pasts.

PolitiFact is live fact-checking the confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Kash Patel, two of President Donald Trump's Cabinet picks.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, concluded Thursday's hearing by saying he was "struggling" with the nomination due to Kennedy's vaccine positions. Kennedy notably refused to say vaccines don't cause autism as he faced pointed question from lawmakers.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said vaccines are not safe. His support for abortion access has made conservatives uncomfortable.

In a contentious confirmation hearing to become the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions

If confirmed by the Senate, Kennedy would head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees many of the country’s health agencies, from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Cassidy is expected to challenge RFK Jr. on his vaccine skepticism and views on public health in today's confirmation hearing.

Kyra Kennedy, 29, is the youngest daughter of health secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

He needs to earn support from nearly all Senate Republicans to become Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The man who hopes to be President Donald Trump’s health secretary said he needed to see data showing vaccines are safe, but when an influential Republican senator did so, he dismissed it.