HHS Secretary Kennedy Jr. Confronted About Raccoon Penis Incident

TMZ reporter asks Kennedy about his alleged collection of roadkill genitalia.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:13pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting depicting a fractured, geometric representation of a severed raccoon's genitalia in a swirling composition of bold, clashing colors, conceptually illustrating the bizarre personal anecdote about a government official's alleged collection of roadkill remains.A disturbing new revelation about a cabinet secretary's unusual roadkill hobbies raises questions about judgment in government.NYC Today

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confronted by a TMZ reporter on Capitol Hill about a bizarre story from his new biography, in which he recounts cutting the penis off a roadkill raccoon and planning to study it later while his kids waited in the car. Kennedy chuckled at the question but did not provide a verbal response.

Why it matters

The raccoon penis story is the latest in a series of unusual incidents involving Kennedy, who has previously admitted to collecting and eating roadkill meat and leaving a dead bear cub in New York City. These types of bizarre personal anecdotes have drawn scrutiny to Kennedy's fitness for public office.

The details

In the new book 'RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise' by New York Post writer Isabel Vincent, Kennedy is quoted as saying: 'I was standing in front of my parked car on I-684 cutting the penis out of a road-killed raccoon, thinking about how weird some of my family members have turned out to be.' He claimed he collected the genitals to 'study them later' while his 'kids waited patiently in the car.' When confronted about the story by a TMZ reporter, Kennedy chuckled but did not provide a verbal response.

  • The incident with the roadkill raccoon allegedly occurred on I-684 in New York.
  • The new book 'RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise' containing the raccoon penis story was published on April 16, 2026.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, who has faced scrutiny over a series of bizarre personal anecdotes, including the alleged collection of roadkill genitalia.

Isabel Vincent

The New York Post writer who authored the new book 'RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise', which includes the raccoon penis story.

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What they’re saying

“I was standing in front of my parked car on I-684 cutting the penis out of a road-killed raccoon, thinking about how weird some of my family members have turned out to be.”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

“Secretary, what did you do with the raccoon's dead penis? Where is it now?”

— TMZ Reporter

The takeaway

The bizarre raccoon penis story is the latest in a series of personal anecdotes that have raised questions about Kennedy's judgment and fitness for public office. As a high-ranking government official, Kennedy's unusual behavior and alleged collection of roadkill remains have drawn intense scrutiny.