Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LFYHnEHJRA
Sources:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health secretary, was recorded on the phone pressuring a Libertarian congressional candidate in Iowa to drop out of his race. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged a Libertarian congressional candidate in Iowa to drop out of a competitive U.S. House race, according to an audio recording of the conversation obtained by the outlet — The Washington Post
The candidate might pull two or three points away from the Republican. Stewart said Republicans wanted him out because he might pick up 2 or 3 percent that they believe would come out of the Republican’s total — Election Law Blog
Kennedy told him he was acting as a “liaison” with the White House. Early in the call, before Stewart began recording, Kennedy said he was acting as a “liaison” with the White House, the Post reported — Little Village
He told him he could “make an agreement” instead of what Kennedy called a “symbolic run.” Kennedy suggested the candidate could “make an agreement” that would accomplish more than a “symbolic run” for office — Election Law Blog
He floated a job — work in the federal government, do more good for people there. On the recording Kennedy suggested Stewart do “something in federal government where you think maybe you can do more for people there” than a symbolic run — Little Village
And then this, on the recording: “I can’t go into specifics because there’s legal prohibitions about that.” Kennedy told Stewart in the June 11 call, “I can’t go into specifics because there’s legal prohibitions about that” — The Washington Post
The Hatch Act exists precisely to stop federal officials from using their office to tilt elections. A Campaign Legal Center lawyer cited the Hatch Act, which is intended to prevent federal officials from interfering in elections, in saying Kennedy should not have gotten involved — Reuters/Washington Post via ResetEra
Ethics experts said any other administration would be forced to take this seriously — the conduct was unethical and potentially illegal. Government ethics experts said Kennedy’s apparent intervention was unethical and potentially illegal, depending on whether he promised specific favors and made the calls in his capacity as a Cabinet official — Election Law Blog
The candidate, Rick Stewart, walked away understanding one thing: he gets a job in Washington if he quits. Stewart said he understood Kennedy’s remarks to mean, “Basically, the way I understand it, is I’ll get a job in Washington if I want one” — The Gazette
Rick Stewart is the Libertarian running in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. Rick Stewart, running in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, said Kennedy urged him to drop out; he said he is not leaving the race — CBS2 Iowa
June 8th: Kennedy calls Marco Battaglia, the Libertarian running in Iowa’s 3rd District, and warns the House could flip to Democrats if he stays in. Kennedy’s outreach to Stewart followed a June 8 call with Marco Battaglia, the Libertarian candidate in Iowa’s 3rd District, in which Kennedy warned the House could flip for Democrats if Battaglia stayed in — Washington Post via ResetEra
June 11th: Kennedy calls Stewart — and this time, Stewart hits record. Kennedy called Stewart on June 11; the difference between the two calls is that Stewart recorded part of his and shared it with the Post — Little Village
A Cabinet officer, twice in one week, leaning on candidates to clear the field for his party trying to keep control of the House. Stewart is the second Iowa Libertarian to say Kennedy called asking him to drop out, as Republicans hope to maintain control of the U.S. House — CBS2 Iowa