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Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. admitted to dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

A black bear killed nearly 10 years ago has been making political headlines.

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted to dumping the dead bear cub in New York City's Central Park and making it look like a bicyclist had hit the animal.

KELLY: Yes. In a video posted to social media, the independent politician recounted to actor Roseanne Barr that he had come across the carcass while falconing, put it in his van to skin and eat later and then ran out of time to stash the bear before catching a flight.

CHANG: Inspired by a spike of bike accidents in New York City, he took an old bike, the bear and some friends to Central Park, where he dumped the cub. After the bear was discovered the next day, police opened an investigation that went unsolved for a decade.

KELLY: Among the many questions this raises, Ailsa, why'd he fess up now?

CHANG: Well, Kennedy appeared to be getting ahead of a New Yorker article, tagging the publication in his post and saying, quote, "looking forward to seeing how you spin this one."

KELLY: Kennedy did not disclose what he had for dinner that night. Instead, we will, of course, update if we find out. Bear with us.

CHANG: Oh, God. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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Justine Kenin
Justine Kenin is an editor on All Things Considered. She joined NPR in 1999 as an intern. Nothing makes her happier than getting a book in the right reader's hands – most especially her own.