A shocking revelation has emerged in the ongoing investigation into Michael L. Kennedy’s alleged affair with his former teenage babysitter.
Published reports have disclosed that Kennedy took the girl on three rafting trips between 1994 and 1995.
Records filed with the Maine Warden Service have confirmed these claims.
According to a Boston area newspaper, the first trip occurred when the girl was just 16 years old.
They embarked on a journey to the Kennebec River in northwestern Maine.
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s office has been conducting an inquiry into allegations that Kennedy engaged in a relationship with the girl starting five years prior, when she was only 14.
If proven true, Kennedy may face charges of statutory rape under Massachusetts law.
The motive behind these trips was Kennedy’s request for the girl to babysit his son, Michael Jr., and one of his friends.
Nancy Sterling, a spokesperson for the girl’s family, stated that both boys, aged 11 at the time of the first trip, accompanied them on all three excursions.
Notably, Kennedy’s wife, Victoria, was not recorded as a participant on any of the trips.
It remains unclear when the third trip occurred as the records do not provide that detail.
Anonymous sources cited by the newspaper claimed that the underage girl was frequently offered alcohol during these outings, despite being below the legal drinking age of 21.
Furthermore, the sources revealed that on one occasion, a tent was set up as a sauna where rafters drank and socialized, some even undressing partially.
The newspaper also mentioned Maureen Berkley, who appeared on the participant list for all three trips.
Berkley contacted the newspaper, allegedly on behalf of “Kennedy family operatives,” to deny any claims of adult partying witnessed by the underage children present, referring to those under 16 years old.
The first rafting trip, which included 17 participants, occurred in June 1994 while Kennedy was actively involved in engineering U.S.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s re-election campaign.
The second trip took place a year later and had 24 participants.
Unfortunately, the records fail to indicate the exact timing of the third trip, which listed 21 participants.
Kennedy’s name and the babysitter’s name are both documented on a “Noncommercial Whitewater Rafting Registration” form, mandatory for private rafters operating in the Kennebec River gorge near The Forks, Maine.
This document identifies the trip organizers and all other individuals participating in the activity.