RFK Jr accepted $4M in book advances from MAHA‑linked publisher

newsSep 23, 202627394

The New York Times reports that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received about $4 million in book advances over the past year from Tony Lyons, owner of Skyhorse Publishing, who also runs MAHA-linked groups that have monetized support for Kennedy's agenda. Kennedy also accepted more than $270,000 in gifts and benefits from allies; records show Mr. de Becker paid nearly $150,000 in airfares for Kennedy, including roughly $45,000 for a July 2025 trip to Greece and about $97,000 for a November trip to Fiji. A new disclosure shows Cheryl Hines, the secretary’s wife, was paid $210,000 in consulting fees by a MAHA-affiliated group. Federal rules prohibit an official from receiving compensation for writing a book related to official duties, and Kennedy’s 2024 ethics filing promised to avoid writing, editing or promotional activities for books while in government service. Ethics experts quoted in the reporting say the financial relationships raise conflict concerns and may violate those rules, and the disclosures have prompted renewed scrutiny of Kennedy’s independence at HHS. The Times frames the payments as part of a broader pattern of allies monetizing the MAHA movement and paying for travel and other benefits for the secretary, intensifying calls for formal ethics review.

Scott Horton

@robertscotthorton.bsky.social

Trump appears to have arranged a stream of payments to RFKJr in order to secure his support during the 2024 elections. First, Kennedy drew $4 million in book advances from Tony Lyons, a publisher who also runs MAHA groups that accept $$ from health companies with business before HHS. The advances

21716d ago

Scott Horton47

were fixed when Kennedy dropped his presidential bid and announced his support for Trump. A new disclosure also shows $210,000 in consulting fees paid to Cheryl Hines, RFKJr's wife, by one of several MAHA-affiliated groups capitalizing from his agenda.

Irwin Glenn11

Corruption over health care. Trumpian

Rich Fox8

So, Trump bought his pet Kennedy.

Dona Dickinson5

Hard to imagine how much corruption will eventually come to light when this evil regime collapses.

jpure.bsky.social4

They are all corrupt grifters, kickbacks takers, bribes takers, gangsters , and thieves.

Bubba’s Gigi2

Impeach this mo fo right after Kegsbreath!

Quoting this

Eli Friedmann 3

interesting. but not shocking. 🤔

Sheryl Gay Stolberg

@sherylnyt.bsky.social

RFK Jr. took $4 million in book advances and $270,000 in gifts from close allies working to advance his agenda. His wife received $210,000 in consulting fees from a MAHA group. Ethics experts are troubled. w/ @by-cjewett.bsky.social Jewett www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...

7116d ago

Gisaster4

Corruption in the Trump regime?! WE ARE SHOCKED!

Quoting this

adrian6

oh no, they’re troubled? the ethics experts are perturbed? they’re wringing their hands and dabbing sweat from their brows? their tummies hurt?

maundering yokel6

you've got to assume an ethics expert is troubled almost all the time. although it would be pretty cool not to be. "the blasé ethicist"

River_Tam5

We really need to stop talking about "ethics experts". What are they, moral philosophers?

RoseMarie

@rosesbloom24.bsky.social

Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, received $4m over the last year in book advances from allies within the Make America Healthy Again movement, according to a new report. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

2316d ago

RoseMarie3

The advances were for upcoming books by Skyhorse Publishing, a publishing house belonging to Tony Lyons, a friend of Kennedy Jr who is also president of Maha Center, a non-profit that describes itself as “tackling America’s health crisis through education, investigation, innovation and action”.

Gonzo3

Sounds like bribes during his recent political career.

Liz Szabo

@lizszabo.bsky.social

Why are RFK Jr’s friends paying for his vacations? Aren’t the Kennedys rich? “The records show that Mr. de Becker also paid for nearly $150,000 in airfares for Mr. Kennedy: $45,000 for a trip to Greece in July 2025 and nearly $97,000 for a trip to Fiji in November. “ www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...

1716d ago

Dr Kiddo

@drkiddo.bsky.social

Every single cabinet member is a sickening grifter. Even the Marvelous Mrs. Measles grifted nearly a quarter million bucks. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...

1116d ago

elizabethginexi.bsky.social

@elizabethginexi.bsky.social

Federal rules say that an official may not “receive compensation from any source other than the government” for writing a book related to his official duties while in office. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...

1016d ago

Kathleen Clark

@kathleenclark.bsky.social

Last year, RFK Jr accepted $4 million* from Tony Lyons, who is now literally selling access to RFK Jr -- at $300K a pop -- to companies that have business before HHS, RFK Jr's agency. *in "book advances" news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-a...

Ahead of the MAHA Summit on Sept. 29, a menu of sponsorship options was circulated to companies and consultants with various tiers of support, according to people
familiar with the solicitations who weren’t authorized to speak publicly. The highest level, quoted at $300,000 to some prospective sponsors, guaranteed a speaking slot
at the event “with meaningful input on the panel composition and topic” as well as a “private dinner for 30 guests” with Kennedy and Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The event presenter, MAHA Center, is part of a web of interconnected groups run by Tony Lyons, Kennedy’s longtime book publisher. Lyons co-founded a political action
committee that supported Kennedy’s failed 2024 presidential bid and is now affiliated with several organizations leading the Make America Health Again movement,
including a PAC and nonprofits.

1216d ago

BanmarNJ

@banmarnj.bsky.social

Kennedy Drew $4 Million in Book Advances From Publisher Who Also Monetized MAHA A new disclosure also shows $210,000 in consulting fees paid to Cheryl Hines, the health secretary’s wife, by one of several MAHA-affiliated groups capitalizing from his agenda. They’re both frauds and grifters.

516d ago

ᕼᗴᗪᗩ 🩵 🐶 🇺🇦✌️

@hedahunter.bsky.social

Not only did RFK Jr steal from Minority Infants to beef up his personal security, he took millions from pals who Monetized MAHA… and funnelled some of the money through the Mrs? www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...

616d ago

Karen Langsam

@langsam-karen.bsky.social

🧵NOT ONLY DOES THE SEC OF DEATH KILL PEOPLE. He uses his position to profit mightily on folks death march. ⬇️Kennedy Drew $4 Million in Book Advances From Publisher Who Also Monetized MAHA www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...

116d ago

wheelyweb 🇨🇦🇮🇹🇦🇺

@wheelyweb.bsky.social

Kennedy Drew $4 Million in Book Advances From Publisher Who Also Monetized MAHA www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u... Huh. Whoda thought the grifter hired by the head grifter would be grifting ?

316d ago

bjkeefe

@bjkeefe.bsky.social

Via @adamserwer.bsky.social, today's news of the unshocking ... ... (but always #DocumentTheAtrocities) ... "In an ethics filing before taking office, Mr. Kennedy pledged not to 'engage in any writing, editing or promotional activities' associated with the books ..." gift link:

416d ago

Albion Rising

@lbion.bsky.social

RFK Jr’s wife, accepted $210k in consulting fees from MAHA Action, a nonprofit advocacy group. It rallies supporters of RFK’s priorities on weekly broadcasts & backs health-related legislation, including a federal bill to end liability protection for vaccine makers. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...

116d ago

Kevin Sullivan

@kevinl22.bsky.social

Another trump grift. RFKjr & his Hollywood talentless wife get millions for being the trump trash they both are. tinyurl.com/5cm92sys

116d ago

oligarchssuck.bsky.social

@oligarchssuck.bsky.social

Kennedy Drew $4 Million in Book Advances From Publisher Who Also Monetized MAHA Ethics experts said the financial relationships may violate rules barring officials from profiting from their position and call into question the secretary’s ability to remain independent www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...

116d ago

1 source

nytimes.comKennedy Drew $4 Million in Book Advances From Publisher Who Also Monetized MAHA

Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 15 years in New Yorknews Guardian visualises London buses' slowdownnews RFK Jr accepted $4M in book advances from MAHA‑linked publishernews Hackers say they stole thousands of FBI personnel recordsnews

RFK Jr accepted $4M in book advances from MAHA‑linked publisher

Related