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Kennedy Pledges Transparency on Campaign Finances and Advisors

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2026/ .. nsparency-on-campaign-finances-and-advisors.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Thursday, February 12th 2026 at 11:52 GMT by Associated Press
      Locales: California, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, UNITED STATES

Washington D.C. - February 12th, 2026 - Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a commitment to greater transparency regarding his campaign finances and the individuals advising his independent run for the presidency. The pledge comes after mounting criticism concerning the opacity surrounding his funding sources and inner circle, issues which have dogged his campaign since its inception.

In a statement released yesterday, Kennedy stated he would publicly release lists of both his campaign donors and advisors. "I'm pledging to be more transparent," he said. "I will be releasing lists of my donors and my advisors. I want people to know who is working for me and who is supporting me." This move appears to be a direct response to concerns raised by media outlets, political analysts, and rival campaigns about the potential influence of undisclosed backers.

The need for this announcement stems from a series of recent revelations that have cast a shadow over Kennedy's candidacy. Earlier this month, news broke that Richard V. Mack, a former Marine with a conviction for conspiracy to defraud the United States, had been serving as a senior campaign advisor before his role was publicly acknowledged by the Kennedy team. This disclosure prompted immediate questions about Kennedy's vetting process and judgment, particularly given Mack's controversial past. Critics pointed to the incident as evidence of a pattern of insufficient due diligence.

Prior to the Mack revelation, Kennedy's campaign was already facing scrutiny over a significant $100,000+ payment made to a political consulting firm suspected of covertly bolstering his candidacy. The lack of clarity regarding the purpose of this payment and the firm's activities further fueled speculation and raised red flags among election finance watchdogs. These events highlight a recurring theme in Kennedy's campaign: a lack of readily available information about the financial and logistical infrastructure supporting his bid.

Kennedy is currently navigating a uniquely challenging path as an independent candidate. While the two-party system dominates American politics, successful independent bids are rare and require significant resources, broad appeal, and an ability to overcome established party structures. Kennedy currently polls at a relatively modest national level, hovering around 7% according to recent averages, though his support demonstrates pockets of strength in certain key states, particularly in the Mountain West and New England. Experts believe his appeal stems from voters disillusioned with both major parties, and his focus on issues such as environmental protection and pharmaceutical accountability.

However, maintaining and expanding this support base requires building trust, and the previous lack of transparency has proven to be a significant obstacle. Political strategists suggest that voters are increasingly demanding to know who is funding campaigns and who is whispering in the ears of candidates. Without this information, it's difficult for voters to assess potential biases and conflicts of interest.

"Transparency is crucial for any candidate, but especially for an independent," explains Dr. Eleanor Vance, a Professor of Political Science at George Washington University. "Independent candidates need to demonstrate that they are not beholden to any special interests. Releasing donor and advisor lists is a good first step, but it needs to be followed up with ongoing disclosure and a willingness to answer tough questions."

The announcement of donor and advisor lists is being met with cautious optimism. While many welcome the move as a positive step towards greater accountability, others remain skeptical. Some argue that simply releasing the lists isn't enough; the campaign must also disclose the amount of money contributed by each donor and the specific roles and responsibilities of each advisor. Others worry that Kennedy's commitment to transparency might be short-lived, or that the information released will be incomplete or misleading.

The Kennedy campaign has indicated that the lists will be released in phases, beginning with a preliminary report by the end of February. The campaign also stated it will establish a dedicated section on its website to provide ongoing updates on campaign finance and advisor information. Whether this will be sufficient to quell concerns and bolster Kennedy's standing with voters remains to be seen. This situation underscores the growing importance of campaign finance transparency in the modern political landscape and sets a precedent that other independent and third-party candidates may be pressured to follow.