Top Democrat Calls for Criminal Probe into Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Over Alleged False Testimony
A prominent Democratic senator has formally demanded a criminal investigation into US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing evidence that he misled Congress during his confirmation hearings last year.
The call comes on the heels of newly surfaced documents obtained via a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, which contradict Kennedy’s previous testimony regarding a controversial 2019 trip to Samoa. During that visit, Kennedy—then a vocal leader of an anti-vaccine organization—toured the Pacific nation shortly before a devastating measles outbreak killed 83 people, the vast majority of whom were children under the age of five.
Contradictory Evidence
During his Senate confirmation hearings, Kennedy was pressed by senators Ron Wyden and Ed Markey regarding the purpose of his Samoa trip. Under scrutiny, Kennedy testified that his visit had “nothing to do with vaccines.”
However, correspondence obtained by The Guardian and the Associated Press tells a different story. In a letter to the Samoan prime minister, Kennedy explicitly stated his intention to study the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, using the words “vaccine” or “vaccination” eight times throughout the document.
“RFK’s platform is built on lies and grifts that leave a trail of dead children in their wake,” said Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. “There are consequences for lying to Congress.”
Wyden confirmed he is pressuring his Republican colleagues to issue a criminal referral to the Department of Justice. He added that should Democrats regain the Senate majority, Kennedy would be at the top of their list for oversight and accountability hearings.
Calls for Resignation
The revelation has sparked an outcry among Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups. The government watchdog organization American Oversight has formally petitioned the Department of Justice to open an immediate investigation into whether Kennedy violated federal law by providing false statements to a legislative body.
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) denounced the pattern of behavior, stating, “RFK Jr has lied to the Senate, lied to the American people and jeopardized the health of children to advance his anti-vaccine agenda. He should never have been confirmed, and he cannot be trusted to run [the Department of Health and Human Services] for even one more day.”
Hawaii Governor Josh Green, a medical doctor who participated in the 2019 emergency response to the Samoan measles outbreak, echoed these sentiments, labeling the testimony a clear deception and calling for Kennedy’s immediate resignation.
Legal Hurdles
While the political pressure mounts, legal experts note that holding the current administration accountable presents significant hurdles. Josh Chafetz, a professor of law and politics at Georgetown University, observed that while lying to Congress is a crime regardless of whether a witness is under oath, a successful prosecution would likely require action from an executive branch currently unlikely to pursue its own cabinet member.
Despite the current political climate, legal analysts suggest that if the balance of power shifts in the upcoming November elections, lawmakers could leverage the RFK Jr. confirmation hearing investigation as a basis for formal inquiries or even impeachment proceedings. With the federal statute of limitations for the offense set at five years, the potential for a future Justice Department to review the case remains a looming prospect.
The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet provided a detailed response to the latest calls for investigation. However, in a previous statement, the agency maintained that Kennedy’s visit was “unrelated to vaccines” and dismissed accusations of perjury as “defamatory.”
