Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Makes His Final Plea Before Senators As A Key Vote Hangs In The Balance

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s long record of questioning the safety of childhood vaccinations persisted as a flash point for him Thursday during a confirmation hearing where a key Republican quickly raised concerns about his views.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician who chairs the health committee, opened the hearing with tough questions for Kennedy. He asked him to reject a long-discredited theory that vaccines cause autism.

Kennedy refused to flatly do so.

"It's no secret I have some reservations on your past positions on vaccines and other issues," Cassidy told the nominee.

Cassidy, of Louisiana, is considered to be a crucial vote for Kennedy to be confirmed as the Trump administration's top health official. He shared with Kennedy a personal story about an 18-year-old woman whose liver was failing from a hepatitis infection.