Exclusive: Senator opens investigation into evidence RFK Jr ‘unlawfully lied’ to Congress

The incoming chair of the Senate finance committee, Ron Wyden of Oregon, is seeking extensive records from Children's Health Defense (CHD), the non-profit anti-vaccine group Kennedy has used to fuel his political rise. The investigation focuses on documents related to Kennedy's 2019 trip to Samoa, which occurred just months before a measles outbreak killed 83 people in the Pacific island nation, mostly children under five.

In a letter sent Wednesday and obtained by the Guardian, Wyden and Democratic Senator Angela Alsobrooks wrote: 'We are beginning an investigation into evidence that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy, Jr unlawfully lied to Congress on multiple occasions.' They cited reporting by the Guardian that indicated Kennedy lied about his reasons for going to Samoa.

Contradictory testimony

During his 2025 confirmation hearings, Kennedy told lawmakers his visit to Samoa had 'nothing to do with vaccines.' However, letters obtained by the Guardian and the Associated Press through an open records lawsuit contradicted this testimony. In a January 2019 letter to the Samoan prime minister, Kennedy explicitly said he wanted to study the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the Pacific island nation, using the words 'vaccine' or 'vaccination' eight times.

Political connections

Wyden's letter requests all documents related to any travel to Samoa by Kennedy or other employees of CHD, communications with Samoan officials, and records related to Kennedy's presidential campaign and Senate confirmation process. The senators also want records of Kennedy's speech to CHD's September convention and all communications between CHD and federal officials since January 2025.

Since taking office, Kennedy has hired former CHD employees, including Lyn Redwood, a former CHD president who made early outreach on his behalf to Samoa. Redwood now works at the Department of Health and Human Services on vaccine safety. Kennedy's closest adviser, Stefanie Spear, previously ran CHD's newsletter.

Potential consequences

The letter doesn't carry the legal force of a subpoena, but Tim Stretton of the Project on Government Oversight warned: 'It's not wise to ignore it. It's really in their interest now to cooperate in a good faith effort.' If CHD doesn't comply, the committee could issue subpoenas.

Knowingly giving material false testimony to Congress is a crime that carries a possible prison sentence, though it is rarely prosecuted. Wyden previously called for a criminal investigation of Kennedy's testimony about Samoa and said he would press for a criminal referral to the Department of Justice. Several other Democrats, including incoming Senator Bernie Sanders, have called for Kennedy's resignation or impeachment.

CHD has a deadline of December 4 to respond to the senators' request. The investigation comes as Democrats take control of the Senate, with Wyden having signaled his commitment to accountability with a one-word social media post on election night: 'Subpoenas.'