Two Democratic senators are launching an investigation into whether US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr “lied” to Congress during his confirmation hearing about the reasons behind his 2019 trip to Samoa.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. Wyden sought a wide range of documents related to Kennedy’s trip to Samoa, his 2024 presidential campaign, and his Senate confirmation process, during which he is accused of lying to Congress.“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.The letter was also signed by Angela Alsobrooks, a Democratic senator from Maryland.Kennedy was confirmed as health secretary in February 2025, joining President Donald Trump’s second administration. The health secretary, a nephew of former US President John F Kennedy, secured 52 votes in favour and 48 against. He has denied lying during his confirmation hearing.
The controversy
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. He travelled to Samoa in his capacity as chair and chief legal counsel of CHD. Critics, including Samoan officials, have alleged that his presence on the island “emboldened” anti-vaccine activists in the country, worsening a vaccination crisis.Kennedy has denied the allegations, including during two confirmation hearings in January 2025, maintaining that his visit had “nothing to do with vaccines.”However, The Associated Press and The Guardian reported in August that Kennedy had sent a letter to Samoa’s prime minister on official letterhead, in which he mentioned “vaccine” or “vaccination” eight times.“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. In Samoa and in the United States, unvaccinated children have died tragic and preventable deaths during measles outbreaks.“We intend to hold secretary Kennedy accountable for the grave harm he has caused to vulnerable 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,” the two Democratic senators wrote in their letter to CHD.Like Kennedy, his department of health has also maintained that his 2019 visit to Samoa was “unrelated to vaccines.”
What next
Democrats are set to regain control of Congress in January next year following their victory in the November 3 midterm elections. However, legal experts say the Justice Department under Trump is unlikely to prosecute Kennedy. They note that his statements could nevertheless provide grounds for congressional hearings, an impeachment inquiry or other efforts to challenge the Trump administration.Although prosecutions are rare, knowingly providing materially false testimony to Congress is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment.(With AP inputs)
