Wyden seeks criminal probe into RFK Jr's testimony on Samoa trip
Senator Ron Wyden has called for a criminal investigation into Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr following Guardian reporting that he may have lied during Senate confirmation hearings about a 2019 trip to Samoa. The trip occurred before a measles outbreak that killed 83 people. Wyden is urging Republican colleagues to refer the matter to the Department of Justice.
The newly obtained letters, released through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit pursued by the Guardian and the Associated Press, directly contradict Kennedy's sworn testimony that his 2019 Samoa visit had "nothing to do with vaccines." In correspondence to the Samoan prime minister, Kennedy explicitly sought to study the MMR vaccine in the island nation, using the words "vaccine" or "vaccination" eight times. The trip preceded a measles outbreak that sickened thousands and killed 83 people, predominantly children under five.
Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate finance committee, is urging Republican colleagues to issue a criminal referral to the Department of Justice. The watchdog group American Oversight has also requested a federal investigation into whether Kennedy made false statements to Congress. Legal experts note that while lying to Congress constitutes a crime regardless of oath status, prosecution would require action from the Trump administration's justice department, which is considered unlikely to pursue the case.
This development could further erode public trust in federal health institutions at a time when vaccine confidence remains a sensitive issue. If Democrats gain congressional control in November, Kennedy's statements may become grounds for hearings or impeachment proceedings, potentially distracting from the administration's broader agenda. The case may also influence how future nominees answer questions during confirmation, as officials observe whether misleading testimony carries meaningful consequences or remains effectively unpunished when the executive branch declines to act.