Documents obtained by news organizations reveal that U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. provided misleading testimony during his Senate confirmation hearings last year concerning the purpose of a 2019 trip to Samoa. Kennedy told senators that his visit was unrelated to vaccines, but correspondence obtained ahead of the trip indicates otherwise.
In a January 2019 letter to Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Kennedy explicitly referenced vaccines multiple times, expressing a desire to investigate the circumstances surrounding two child deaths reportedly linked to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Kennedy, who was then leading the nonprofit Children’s Health Defense—known for its anti-vaccine stance—wrote that he hoped to conduct a “detailed health informatics assessment” to study potential issues with Samoa’s vaccine lots. The letter also suggested that vaccine-related adverse events are difficult to investigate due to limitations in health information systems.
The Samoan government welcomed Kennedy’s proposal in a response dated February 2019. Subsequently, Kennedy traveled to Samoa in May and June 2019 with his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, and colleague Dr. Michael Graven, who described the visit as part of a vaccine-related “mission.” During this period, Samoa was recovering from a vaccination pause triggered by the deaths of two children who had received improperly prepared MMR vaccines, leading to criminal charges against the involved nurses.
Kennedy’s visit preceded a major measles outbreak in Samoa, which ultimately resulted in 83 deaths, mostly of young children. Public health officials have argued that efforts to combat the outbreak were hindered by anti-vaccine activism, which they say was strengthened by Kennedy’s presence in the country. Critics have raised concerns about the impact Kennedy’s visit may have had on vaccination rates, which had already declined following the vaccine-related incident.
During his Senate confirmation hearings, Kennedy repeatedly denied that vaccines were the focus of his trip, telling senators he was there to introduce a medical informatics system for digitizing health records. He asserted that he had not made any public statements discouraging vaccination in Samoa and that his visit did not influence vaccine uptake decisions. Kennedy was not under oath during these proceedings and was confirmed by the Senate in a 52-48 vote.
Following the revelations, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) disputed claims that Kennedy lied, calling such allegations “outright defamatory” and stating that the trip was unrelated to vaccines. However, HHS did not address the discrepancy between Kennedy’s testimony and the contents of the letter. The White House declined to comment.
Legal experts note that knowingly giving false testimony to Congress is a federal crime, though prosecutions are rare. Some Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Ron Wyden and Edward Markey, have accused Kennedy of misleading the Senate. Experts have suggested that if Democrats regain control of Congress after the November elections, they might pursue investigations or hearings related to Kennedy’s statements.
Kennedy’s history with anti-vaccine activism and his recent willingness to suggest criminal charges against other public health officials have added to the controversy surrounding his tenure. The statute of limitations for false testimony before Congress extends five years, meaning future administrations could potentially investigate the matter further.