In a provocative revelation on Friday, Kurt Andersen, a Harvard classmate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claimed that Kennedy, now a prominent political figure and recent ally of Donald Trump, sold him cocaine during their time at the university. Andersen, a well-known editor and author who has written critically about Trump, including the famous description of him as a “short-fingered vulgarian” in Spy magazine, made the allegation in a detailed account.

According to Andersen, during his freshman year at Harvard, he decided to purchase cocaine after initially trying it and finding it enjoyable. He recounted that he was directed to Kennedy, who was reportedly involved in selling drugs at the time. Andersen described visiting Kennedy’s dorm room, where Kennedy provided a sample of the cocaine and a plastic drinking straw for use. Andersen paid Kennedy $40 in cash for the drug, a sum he considered significant at the time.

This account adds a new layer to Kennedy Jr.’s complex history with substance abuse. Vanity Fair had previously reported that during his Harvard years in the mid-1970s, Kennedy was known for using a dangerous mixture of heroin and cocaine, known as a speedball. The magazine’s profile suggested that Kennedy was a central figure in a circle of friends and family who were similarly involved in drug use.

Kennedy Jr. has been candid about his past struggles with addiction. He began using heroin at the age of 15 and continued to battle the addiction until he was 29, when he was charged with drug possession. In court, Kennedy pled guilty and received two years of probation, in addition to undergoing rehabilitation. His experiences with addiction have been well-documented and have colored his public persona, both in his personal life and in his political career.

Andersen’s account draws a provocative parallel between Kennedy’s past and his present political stance. He framed the anecdote as a lens through which to view Kennedy’s current political and social positions, particularly in light of Kennedy’s recent endorsement of Donald Trump, who has previously advocated for severe penalties for drug dealers, including the death penalty. This endorsement comes after Kennedy suspended his own presidential campaign, a move that has attracted significant attention.

In his commentary, Andersen criticized Kennedy’s support for Trump’s criminal-justice policies, questioning how someone with Kennedy’s past involvement in drug sales could align with a regime that supports harsh penalties for drug offenses. Andersen’s piece suggests a dissonance between Kennedy’s past actions and his current political positions, highlighting what he perceives as a troubling inconsistency.

This revelation has sparked discussions about the broader implications of Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump, especially considering Trump’s stance on drug-related criminal justice policies. The endorsement is viewed by some as a strategic move within the shifting landscape of American politics, but Andersen’s account adds a personal and controversial dimension to the narrative.

The Daily Beast has sought comments from both the Kennedy and Trump campaigns regarding Andersen’s claims and the implications of Kennedy’s political endorsements in light of his past. The story continues to develop as further responses and reactions are anticipated from the involved parties.