Ron Wyden, the incoming chair of the Senate finance committee, launched an investigation on Wednesday into evidence that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "unlawfully lied" during his 2025 confirmation hearings. The Oregon senator sent a letter to Children’s Health Defense (CHD), the anti-vaccine non-profit Kennedy used to fuel his political rise, demanding extensive records. Angela Alsobrooks, a Democratic senator from Maryland, signed the letter with him. They cited reporting indicating Kennedy misrepresented his reasons for visiting Samoa in 2019, a trip occurring months before a measles outbreak killed 83 people, mostly children under five. Critics, including Samoan officials, report that Kennedy’s presence emboldened local activists and worsened the vaccination crisis. Kennedy denies these allegations, stating he never discouraged vaccinations.
Contradictory testimony and document requests
In two congressional hearings in January 2025, Kennedy told lawmakers his visit to Samoa had "nothing to do with vaccines." However, letters obtained through an open records lawsuit contradict that testimony. In one letter to the Samoan prime minister in January 2019, Kennedy explicitly stated he wanted to study the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. He used the words "vaccine" or "vaccination" eight times in that single communication. The prime minister responded a month later, inviting CHD to assess MMR vaccines. Wyden is aiming at the heart of Kennedy’s political machine by requesting all documents related to any travel to Samoa by Kennedy or other CHD employees. The letter also asks for records regarding Kennedy’s presidential campaign, his Senate confirmation process, and all communications between CHD and federal government officials since January 20, 2025. CHD has a deadline of December 4 to comply.
Since taking office, Kennedy hired former CHD employees, including Lyn Redwood, who now works on vaccine safety at HHS. His closest adviser, Stefanie Spear, previously ran CHD’s newsletter. CHD leaders often act as his most vociferous defenders, praising his decisions on video podcasts and social media. Kennedy headlined CHD’s annual conference in September, where he made false and misleading claims about vaccine safety. HHS previously called claims that Kennedy lied under oath "outright defamatory," but it has not explained why his testimony contradicted his letter to the prime minister. Tim Stretton of the Project on Government Oversight noted that ignoring such a letter is unwise because the committee can issue subpoenas if cooperation fails. Knowingly giving material false testimony to Congress is a crime carrying a possible prison sentence, though it is rarely prosecuted. Wyden previously called for a criminal investigation and said he would press Republican colleagues to refer Kennedy to the Department of Justice. Bernie Sanders, the incoming health committee chair, said he is open to impeachment, while new senator Annie Andrews has called for it since her campaign. Legal experts say prosecution under the current administration is unlikely, but the statements could ground an impeachment inquiry.
