House Democrat Files Impeachment Articles Against RFK Jr., Gets Backlash From Her Own Party
A Democratic congresswoman running for U.S. Senate has filed articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sparking widespread criticism—including from her fellow Democrats.
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) introduced the impeachment resolution on Wednesday, accusing Kennedy of committing “high crimes and misdemeanors” through what she described as a dangerous overhaul of America’s public health system. Stevens claimed Kennedy’s tenure amounts to a “scientific coup d’état” and a violation of his oath of office.
“Secretary Kennedy represents the single largest self-created threat to public health, public trust, and the future of scientific progress in the United States,” Stevens declared. “If we don’t act, Americans will suffer. The secretary must go.”
But the impeachment effort has landed with a thud on Capitol Hill, where members of Stevens’ own party have dismissed the move as a political stunt. The New York Times reported that top Democrats are privately fuming over what they see as a desperate attempt to gain traction in Michigan’s Senate primary, where Stevens is struggling to compete against more progressive candidates.
Though Stevens claims she discussed the plan with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, leadership has not offered support. One Democratic colleague reportedly called the move “reckless,” while others accused Stevens of cheapening the impeachment process for campaign attention.
HHS Director of Communications Andrew Nixon also slammed the articles as “a partisan political stunt,” adding that Kennedy “remains focused on improving Americans’ health and lowering costs.”
Kennedy, who has moved swiftly to implement reforms at HHS, has overhauled vaccine recommendations, cut bureaucratic waste, and cracked down on synthetic food additives. He’s also partnered with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to reform food stamp policies and teamed with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to improve airport health standards in what the Trump administration has dubbed the “MAHA” initiative—Make Airports Healthy Again.
Despite the pushback, Stevens stood by her decision, saying: “I’m not one for political theater. I’m for standing up for the health and safety of the people I represent. These are life-and-death issues.”
With Republicans in control of the House and Democrats offering little support, the articles of impeachment are almost certain to go nowhere. But the move has already ignited a firestorm, revealing deep divisions in the Democratic Party over RFK Jr.’s bold direction at HHS—and raising questions about Stevens’ political future in Michigan.