RFK Jr received $4m in book advances from MAHA allies over the past year

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr received $4m in advances for forthcoming books from Skyhorse Publishing over the past year, the Guardian reported, citing a new report and financial disclosure documents.

The publisher is owned by Tony Lyons, a Kennedy friend who is also president of the Maha Center, a nonprofit that says it works to address the US health crisis.

Kennedy’s ethics commitment

In a 2024 ethics filing, Kennedy said he would not write, edit, market or promote the books while serving in government. Skyhorse has previously published his books The Real Anthony Fauci and The Wuhan Cover-Up.

Kennedy’s 2026 financial disclosure also reported $126,500 in housing in Washington, DC, at a property owned by Gavin de Becker, a security consultant and Kennedy ally.

Gifts from Gavin de Becker

The disclosure said de Becker provided Kennedy with nearly $45,000 in round-trip airfare to Greece and almost $97,000 in round-trip airfare to Fiji. The Wall Street Journal reported that de Becker owns a compound in Fiji.

De Becker donated at least $10m to Kennedy’s Super Pac in 2024, although $9.65m was returned, according to Politico. He also published with Skyhorse a book about alleged government suppression of information on brain damage linked to childhood vaccines.

Payments to Kennedy’s wife

The disclosures also showed that Kennedy’s wife, actor Cheryl Hines, received $210,000 in consulting fees from Maha Action, an advocacy group also led by Lyons.

An HHS spokesperson told the New York Times that Kennedy complies with federal ethics laws, regulations and financial disclosure requirements. De Becker told the outlet that he has been a close friend of Kennedy’s for many years and hosts him at his homes.

Kedric Payne, senior ethics counsel at the Campaign Legal Center, called for full transparency about the gifts and any interests connected to them. The Guardian said it sought further comment from HHS, de Becker and Lyons.