RFK Jr faces Senate probe over ‘lies’ to Congress about Samoa trip

RFK Jr faces Senate probe over ‘lies’ to Congress about Samoa trip Two senators have requested a broad range of documents concerning RFK Jr’s trip to Samoa - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Two senators have launched an investigation into whether Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lied to Congress about the reason for a 2019 trip to Samoa. The probe was launched after reports by The Associated Press and The Guardian in August, refuting his testimony. It is among a vast array of investigations planned into the Trump administration after Democrats regained control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., announced the inquiry in a letter sent Wednesday to Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine nonprofit group previously chaired by Kennedy. The senators requested a broad range of documents from the group concerning Kennedy’s Samoa travel, his 2024 presidential campaign, and his Senate confirmation process. The letter also asked for all communications between the organization and federal officials since President Donald Trump's second term began in January 2025, setting a compliance deadline of Dec. 4. Reporting in August revealed that while Kennedy repeatedly told key confirmation lawmakers last year that his visit to Samoa before a lethal measles outbreak had "nothing to do with vaccines," a pre-trip letter sent to the Samoan prime minister on Children's Health Defense letterhead showed otherwise. Kennedy used the words vaccine or vaccination eight times in the letter. "We intend to hold Secretary Kennedy accountable for the grave harm he has caused to vulnerable children," Wyden and Alsobrooks wrote in their letter. "We also intend to hold him accountable for any false statements made to Congress, a crime that undermines the Senate’s ability to fulfill its constitutional duties." The Department of Health and Human Services has maintained the Samoa trip "was unrelated to vaccines." In response to an AP query in August, HHS said "any claim or insinuation based on these letters that Secretary Kennedy lied under oath or to Congress is not only false but outright defamatory." Kennedy was not under oath during his confirmation hearing. Knowingly giving material false testimony to Congress is a crime carrying a potential prison sentence regardless of whether an individual is under oath, though it is rarely prosecuted. Spokespeople for Children’s Health Defense and HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday. Wyden is slated to chair the Senate Finance Committee, which has oversight of Kennedy’s health department, when Democrats take control of Congress in January. Alsobrooks serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which also oversees the department. The same senators on Wednesday announced a separate inquiry into hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts reportedly given to Kennedy last year by a donor and former employee. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments