Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces investigation over Samoa vaccine testimony

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. HHS Senate confirmation Samoa measles outbreak vaccine policy

Newly obtained documents, including letters obtained via a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, contradict testimony given by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his Senate confirmation hearings. Kennedy had repeatedly asserted to lawmakers that his 2019 visit to Samoa had “nothing to do with vaccines.”

However, the records reveal that prior to the trip, Kennedy wrote to the Samoan prime minister explicitly requesting to study the nation's measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines. In the correspondence, Kennedy used the terms “vaccine” or “vaccination” eight times and suggested that the deaths of two children in Samoa might have been linked to manufacturing issues.

The revelation has prompted Democratic senators, including Ron Wyden and Ed Markey, to call for investigations. Senator Wyden has demanded a criminal investigation into whether Kennedy lied to Congress. Additionally, the watchdog group American Oversight has requested that the Department of Justice investigate potential violations of law regarding false statements to Congress.

The Department of Health and Human Services has denied the allegations, stating that the Samoa visit was unrelated to vaccines and characterizing claims that Kennedy lied as “outright defamatory.” Kennedy was not under oath during his confirmation hearings.

Entities

Department of Health and Human Services · Ed Markey · Robert F. Kennedy Jr. · Ron Wyden · Samoa · The Associated Press · The Guardian

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The watchdog group American Oversight requested the Department of Justice investigate whether Kennedy made false statements to Congress. www.theguardian.com
[● 7 SOURCES] Documents obtained via a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit contradict Kennedy's testimony regarding his 2019 Samoa trip. www.darnews.com · heathercoxrichardson.substack.com · www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com · time.news · www.washingtonexaminer.com · +2 more
[DISPUTED] In a letter to the Samoan prime minister, Kennedy requested to study the nation's measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines. www.darnews.com · heathercoxrichardson.substack.com · www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com · time.news · www.washingtonexaminer.com · +2 more
[● 3 SOURCES] HHS stated that Kennedy's 2019 Samoa visit was unrelated to vaccines and denied allegations that he lied to Congress. www.darnews.com · heathercoxrichardson.substack.com · www.independent.co.uk
[DISPUTED] During his Senate confirmation hearings, Kennedy testified that his 2019 visit to Samoa was unrelated to vaccines. www.darnews.com · heathercoxrichardson.substack.com · www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com · www.independent.co.uk
[● 2 SOURCES] Senator Ron Wyden has called for a criminal investigation into Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding his testimony to Congress. time.news · www.theguardian.com

Sources

Exclusive: RFK Jr. said a Samoa trip had nothing to do with . . . [www.darnews.com]

about 22 hours ago

August 27, 2026 [heathercoxrichardson.substack.com]

about 8 hours ago

BREAKING: RFK Jr. is a compulsively dishonest anti-vaxx crackpot [www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com]

about 20 hours ago

Senator Demands Criminal Probe into RFK Jr Over Measles Lies [time.news]

about 14 hours ago

Senators call for investigation into RFK Jr. after reports he lied to Congress [www.washingtonexaminer.com]

about 3 hours ago

RFK Jr told lawmakers a Samoa trip had nothing to do with vaccines. Docs refute that [www.independent.co.uk]

1 day ago

Senator calls for criminal investigation of RFK Jr after Guardian report [www.theguardian.com]

about 17 hours ago