Weeks before Russell Brand’s conviction for rape and sexual assault by a court in the UK, he appeared as a featured speaker on a video call for Maha Action, an American group closely allied with the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr.

It was a reflection on the warm embrace Brand, a comedian and actor, has received from prominent Trump administration officials and other leaders in Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (Maha) movement, where Brand has used his star status to criticize vaccines and vaccine mandates, junk food, and pharmaceutical companies. He has also heaped praise on Kennedy and other members of the Trump administration.

“You’ve just been a great force in the world and a great force for Maha,” Tony Lyons, who runs Maha Action and has close ties to Kennedy, said to Brand during that call in October. He also said at the time that he believed Brand was falsely accused. “We will stand up for you every week, week after week.”

Now, Maha must contend with Brand’s new status as a convicted rapist. He is due to be sentenced on Monday after being found guilty of raping a fan and sexually assaulting three other women. The actor and Christian influencer, who had pleaded not guilty to the charges, was described during his trial as a ruthless, calculated and manipulative sexual predator.

Brand was acquitted of two other rape charges and attempted indecent assault. It has also been revealed that he is now under investigation for two further rape allegations.