Two Democratic senators are launching an investigation into whether US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr “lied” to Congress about the reasons behind his 2019 trip to Samoa, during his confirmation hearing.
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Jr → launch → hearing
On Wednesday, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, who is set to take over as chair of a powerful Senate committee, wrote to Children’s Health Defense (CHD), a non-profit organisation known for its anti-vaccine activism that Kennedy chaired before joining the Trump administration.
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Kennedy → set → administration
Wyden sought a wide range of documents related to Kennedy’s trip to Samoa, his 2024 presidential campaign, and his Senate confirmation process.
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Wyden → seek → Samoa
“We are beginning an investigation into evidence that secretary of health and human services Robert F Kennedy Jr unlawfully lied to Congress on multiple occasions,” Wyden said in his letter, according to The Guardian.
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Wyden → begin → Guardian
The letter was also signed by Angela Alsobrooks, a Democratic senator from Maryland.
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letter → sign → Maryland
Kennedy was confirmed as health secretary in February 2025, joining President Donald Trump’s second administration.
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Kennedy → confirm → administration
The health secretary, a nephew of former US President John F Kennedy, secured 52 votes in favour and 48 against.
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secretary → secure → favour
He has denied lying during his confirmation hearing.
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He → deny → hearing
The controversy centres on Kennedy’s 2019 visit to Samoa, which took place just months before a measles outbreak killed 83 people in the Pacific island nation, most of them children under the age of five.
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most → centre → five
He travelled to Samoa in his capacity as chair and chief legal counsel of CHD.
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He → travel → CHD
Critics, including Samoan officials, have alleged that his presence on the island “emboldened” anti-vaccine activists in the country, worsening a vaccination crisis.
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presence → include → crisis
Kennedy has denied the allegations, including during two confirmation hearings in January 2025, maintaining that his visit had "nothing to do with vaccines."
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visit → deny → vaccines
However, The Associated Press and The Guardian reported in August that Kennedy had sent a letter to Samoa’s prime minister on official CHD letterhead, in which he mentioned “vaccine” or “vaccination” eight times.
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he → report → vaccine
“We are deeply concerned by the tactics Kennedy has used – both before and during his tenure as secretary – to stand in the way of children receiving life-saving vaccinations.
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Kennedy → use → vaccinations
In Samoa and in the United States, unvaccinated children have died tragic and preventable deaths during measles outbreaks.
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children → die → outbreaks
“We intend to hold secretary Kennedy accountable for the grave harm he has caused to vulnerable children.
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he → intend → children
We also intend to hold him accountable for any false statements made to Congress, a crime that undermines the Senate’s ability to fulfil its constitutional duties,” senators Wyden and Alsobrook wrote in their letter to CHD.
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Wyden → intend → CHD
Like Kennedy, his department of health has also maintained that his 2019 visit to Samoa was "unrelated to vaccines.
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visit → maintain → vaccines
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What next
Democrats are set to regain control of Congress in January next year following their victory in the November 3 midterm elections.
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Democrats → set → elections
However, legal experts say the justice department under Trump is unlikely to prosecute Kennedy.
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department → say → Kennedy
They note that his statements could nevertheless provide grounds for congressional hearings, an impeachment inquiry or other efforts to challenge the Trump administration.
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statements → note → administration
Although prosecutions are rare, knowingly providing materially false testimony to Congress is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment.
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providing → provide → imprisonment
The Aporia
