WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drove viewers of his contentious congressional hearing to distraction Thursday with his loud breathing, prompting an aide to quietly tell him that he should shut his mic off when not speaking.

Kennedy, 71, was in the middle of questioning by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) of the Senate Finance Committee when an unidentified woman approached the HHS chief and whispered in his ear.

The cabinet member smiled in response to the apparent admonition and pressed a button to cut off the speaking device.

“May I have my time back, Mr. Chairman?” Bennet quipped in the direction of panel leader Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). “Thank you.” 3

RFK Jr. suffers from spasmodic dysphonia , a rare neurological disorder that causes spas

See Full Page