RFK Jr. does not deny sexual assault allegation, rejects report he once ate dog meat

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was asked about an allegation reported by Vanity Fair that he sexually assaulted his family's then-23-year-old nanny in 1998 and a claim that he ate a barbecued dog in an interview on the "Breaking Points" podcast Tuesday.

Kennedy, 70, dismissed the assault allegation as part of his "rambunctious youth" to the show's host Saagar Enjeti, saying the publication was "recycling 30-year-old stories."

"I have said this from the beginning: I am not a church boy," Kennedy said. "I have so many skeletons in my closet that if they could all vote, I could run for king of the world."

He was also asked about a photo he sent his friend that raised questions about whether he ate a barbecued dog. Vanity Fair reported that the file's metadata indicates the image was taken in 2010, but Kennedy texted the image to a friend last year, suggesting they try dog meat while visiting Korea.

"It's actually me eating a goat in Patagonia on a whitewater trip many years ago," Kennedy said. They say they have an expert who has identified that as a dog carcass. It's just not true."

In the same interview, Kennedy commented on President Joe Biden's scrutinized debate performance against former President Donald Trump Thursday. He said Biden is "unfit to serve," joining a chorus of calls for Biden to end his 2024 campaign.

Kennedy initially launched his bid for the presidency as a Democrat, but switched to running an independent campaign in October last year. He said he would "certainly consider" running for the nomination at the Democratic National Convention if that was an option, adding that the "clearest path for me to the White House is through the Democratic party."

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. doesn't deny sexual assault claim, says he didn't eat dog meat