Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s late wife, Mary Richardson, accused him of being a “sexual deviant” in newly unearthed court papers related to their bitter divorce.
Kennedy — who was nominated by President Trump to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, and began his Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday — filed a sealed, 60-page affidavit in September 2011.
In the papers, the son of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy accused Richardson of “violence and physical abuse,” alleged she “ran over and killed the [family] dog, Porcia, in the driveway,” claimed she “said she intended to kill herself” in front of their children and detailed how she was often “intoxicated.”
The following March, Richardson compiled a point-by-point draft rebuttal to her then-estranged husband’s affidavit, which was obtained by Mother Jones Wednesday.
In the document, she accused RFK Jr. — whom she described as a lousy parent — of waging a “scorched earth” campaign against her.
Richardson claimed he misled her about the extent of his numerous affairs, branding him a “sexual deviant” and sex addict, as she was in possession of text messages and photos from his phone related to the dalliances.
She also alleged that the anti-vaccine crusader — who previously admitted to being a heroin addict for more than a decade — was physically abusive toward her and misused prescription medication.
The draft described many incidents in their troubled marriage, with Richardson acknowledging some of her own faults.
Though she admitted she once lost her temper and hit Robert, she denied many of his allegations and insisted she never discussed suicide in front of their kids.
“I have witnessed Bobby’s obsessive-compulsive need to not only beat but also annihilate someone he perceives as an adversary,” Richardson wrote.
“He is also well known for his passionate, entertaining speech-making, hyperbole and total exaggeration.”
She added, “He re-jiggers the facts, or makes them up, and rushes to tell as many people as he can so that is the version of reality that gets distributed in people’s minds — classic gaslighting.”
Richardson alleged that the politician, now 71, sold “the media the lie of his perfect family” and claimed, “I have carried the burden of Bobby and his family’s most intimate secrets since I was 15.”
She never filed the rebuttal. Two months later, she died by suicide after hanging herself in her New York home at the age of 52.
Richardson and the Kennedy scion wed in April 1994. Together, they had son Conor Kennedy, 30, daughter Kyra Kennedy, 29, son William “Finn” Kennedy, 26, and son Aidan Kennedy, 23.
RFK Jr. filed for divorce in May 2010, and their union ended in May 2014 at the time of Richardson’s death.
Robert is also dad to son Robert “Bobby” Kennedy III, 40, and daughter Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, 36, whom he shares with his first wife, Emily Ruth Black.
He married his current wife, actress Cheryl Hines, in August 2014.
Reps for RFK Jr. did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.