The dispute followed a Times report saying Kennedy had shown minimal engagement with his vast health portfolio, especially during Africa’s Ebola outbreak, which it said had exposed at least six Americans.
Kennedy said the story relied on anonymous former employees “some of whom I fired or who quit to avoid being fired,” and argued the paper ignored his workplace reforms, including ending what he said was 90% employee absenteeism.
The Times said Kennedy declined an interview and did not answer detailed questions, adding that its article was based on conversations with a dozen people who worked directly with him and that it stood by the reporting.