Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has opened an inquiry into evidence that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr “unlawfully lied” to Congress in his 2025 confirmation hearings, citing a Guardian investigation, The Guardian reports.

Wyden, the incoming chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Angela Alsobrooks are seeking extensive records from Children’s Health Defense (CHD) on Kennedy’s 2019 trip to Samoa — months before a measles outbreak killed 83 people, mostly children under five.

In a Wednesday letter obtained by the Guardian, the senators say they are investigating evidence that Kennedy “unlawfully lied to Congress on multiple occasions.” The letter is not a subpoena, but watchdogs say ignoring it could invite formal ones.

At January 2025 hearings, Kennedy told lawmakers the visit had “nothing to do with vaccines.” Letters obtained by the Guardian and AP through an open-records lawsuit show that in January 2019 he wrote Samoa’s prime minister that he wanted to study the MMR vaccine, using “vaccine” or “vaccination” eight times.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi replied a month later, inviting him and saying Samoa could benefit from CHD’s MMR assessment. Critics, including Samoan officials, argued Kennedy’s presence emboldened anti-vaccine activists; he has denied discouraging vaccination in public.

The senators cite Kennedy’s anti-vaccine tactics before and during his tenure and say they will hold him accountable for any false statements to Congress. CHD’s deadline is 4 December; HHS previously denied he lied under oath and called such claims “defamatory.”

The request also covers CHD–government communications since 20 January 2025, Kennedy’s speech at CHD’s September convention, and campaign-related records. Former CHD figures including Lyn Redwood and Stefanie Spear are now inside HHS or close to the secretary.

Wyden previously sought a criminal referral; Bernie Sanders has said he is open to impeachment. Legal experts doubt a Trump Justice Department would prosecute, but the testimony could still fuel hearings or other political pressure.

Senator opens investigation into evidence RFK Jr unlawfully lied to Congress — The Guardian

Image: Wikimedia Commons — US Capitol, Washington (public domain).

Sources consulted: Senator opens investigation into evidence RFK Jr unlawfully lied to Congress — The Guardian.