Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been revealed to have clandestinely recorded over 60 conversations with his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy, during their acrimonious divorce proceedings. These recordings were made before her death in 2012, as reported by Mother Jones magazine.
The recordings, documented over several years, encapsulate both phone and face-to-face conversations. They showcase heated discussions during Kennedy’s relationships with multiple women, including his current wife, actress Cheryl Hines. In one recording, Kennedy explained his long-standing pattern of infidelity by stating he was “being abused at home.”
This revelation emerges as Kennedy, a past presidential candidate and nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration, is under close examination. The audio recordings, which may have broken California’s two-party consent law in some instances, provide evidence of Richardson’s emotional turmoil and her repeated failed attempts at reconciliation. These occurred while Kennedy was pushing for the divorce to be finalized.
Reportedly, Kennedy used these recordings to assemble a 60-page affidavit that detailed his allegations against Mary Richardson Kennedy. This document outlined various facets of their acrimonious divorce, including relationship disputes, accusations of misconduct, and supporting evidence for his case.
In response, Richardson crafted a counterclaim, accusing Kennedy of physical abuse, misuse of prescription drugs, and “sexual deviant” behavior. She refuted several of his claims, including his statement that she had discussed suicide in front of their children. Her document depicted incidents of alleged physical altercations and claimed Kennedy deliberately left evidence of his infidelities in their home to distress her.
Richardson’s counterclaim further accused Kennedy of launching a relentless campaign against her. Tragically, two months after drafting her rebuttal, which was never officially filed, Richardson took her own life at her residence in Bedford, New York, in May 2012.
Throughout their marriage, Kennedy kept what he referred to as his “sex diary” in small notebooks. In 2013, this private diary was leaked, disclosing detailed accounts of his relationships with 37 women. In this diary, Kennedy used a numerical code to classify his sexual encounters, with a rating of 10 representing full sexual intercourse. The diary also contained personal writings where Kennedy acknowledged his struggles with what he labeled his “lust demons” and conceded that despite his privileged life, he was “looking for ways to screw it up.”
Caroline Kennedy, his cousin and the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, has publicly opposed his nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services. In a letter to senators, she characterized Kennedy as a “predator” and a “hypocrite,” accusing him of having “misrepresented, lied, and cheated his way through life”. She specifically pointed to his history of drug abuse and pattern of deceitful behavior.
The surfacing of these recordings coincides with Kennedy’s Senate testimony on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. During this session, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado questioned Kennedy on his promotion of various conspiracy theories. In the Senate Finance Committee hearing, Bennet challenged Kennedy on his record of making unproven claims about subjects ranging from COVID-19 to Lyme disease, leading Kennedy to admit to propagating conspiracy theories.
The Kennedy family has been linked with a variety of political, personal, and legal controversies over the years. President John F. Kennedy’s term was tainted by allegations of extramarital affairs, most notably with actress Marilyn Monroe. In 1969, Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy was implicated in the Chappaquiddick incident, wherein he drove off a bridge, causing the death by drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne. His delay in reporting the accident led to widespread disapproval and legal repercussions.
