Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that he will persist in receiving payments from lawsuits after his anticipated appointment to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, provided that those lawsuits do not involve the interests of the U.S. government directly.

The veteran environmental attorney turned politician indicated in an ethics agreement that he would continue collecting fees under a consulting arrangement with the law firm WisnerBaum, which is currently involved in a lawsuit against Merck, the manufacturer of the Gardasil vaccine.

Although Kennedy does not formally represent the clients in these cases, he earns fees for referring them. He was instrumental in initiating the large-scale lawsuit against Merck from plaintiffs who argue that the Gardasil vaccine caused serious side effects, as noted by Reuters. WisnerBaum is now recognized as one of the lead attorneys in this matter, according to their website.

“I am entitled to 10% of fees awarded in contingency cases referred to the firm,” Kennedy explained in his ethics agreement. “I am not acting as an attorney of record for these cases, nor will I provide any representative services during my term as secretary.”

Gardasil is currently the only vaccine available in the U.S. that protects against human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to certain types of cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, endorses the vaccine as safe and effective, recommending that children receive it between the ages of 9 and 11.

“An extensive array of scientific evidence, including over 30 years of research along with real-world data produced by Merck and independent researchers, continues to validate the safety and effectiveness of our HPV vaccines,” Merck claimed in a statement to YSL News.

Kennedy has a long-standing record of spreading false and misleading information about vaccines, including the discredited assertion that vaccines cause autism, claims about the dangers of the coronavirus vaccine, and attributing a measles outbreak to the measles vaccine. If appointed, he would oversee the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which governs drug safety, including Gardasil.

WisnerBaum announced in December that they anticipated the lawsuit to enter trial this month, and Merck informed YSL News on Thursday that the case is now in the jury selection stage. The firm did not promptly respond to YSL News’s request for a comment. The Trump-Vance transition team also did not reply.

Kennedy mentioned that he might be able to receive future earnings from cases where the U.S. does not have a significant interest. In instances where the government does have an interest, Kennedy stated he would transfer those fees to a family member who is not financially dependent on him.

In a June 2023 ethics disclosure made when he was running for president, Kennedy reported earning $1.6 million in consulting fees from WisnerBaum and noted that he has been affiliated with the firm since 2016.

Additionally, Kennedy indicated in his ethics agreement that he would eliminate any financial interests connected to claims against the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a system that allows individuals to file claims for compensation if they are determined to have been harmed by vaccines.

This report was initially published by the New York Times.