By — Ali Swenson, Associated Press Ali Swenson, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/senators-probe-rfk-jr-s-reason-for-samoa-trip-after-letter-refuting-his-testimony-published Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Senators probe RFK Jr.'s reason for Samoa trip after letter refuting his testimony published Politics Nov 12, 2026 7:50 PM EST NEW YORK (AP) — Two Democratic senators are launching an investigation into whether Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lied to Congress about his reason for a 2019 trip to Samoa after The Associated Press and The Guardian published documents in August refuting his testimony. READ MORE: AP report: RFK Jr. said a Samoa trip had nothing to do with vaccines. New documents refute that AP and Guardian reporting in August showed that while Kennedy repeatedly told senators who held the key to his confirmation last year that his visit to Samoa before a deadly measles outbreak had "nothing to do with vaccines," a letter he sent to the Samoan prime minister ahead of the trip showed otherwise. In the letter, Kennedy used the words vaccine or vaccination eight times.…
Senators probe RFK Jr.'s reason for Samoa trip after letter refuting his testimony published
In short
Sens. Ron Wyden and Angela Alsobrooks have initiated an oversight probe into whether Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. misled Congress about the purpose of his 2019 trip to Samoa. Although Kennedy testified that the visit had no connection to vaccines, an uncovered letter to the island nation's former prime minister mentioned vaccines or vaccination eight times. Lawmakers have ordered Children’s Health Defense to provide related communications and travel records by Dec. 4. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services rejected the claims, labeling allegations that Kennedy lied as defamatory.
Key points
- Lawmakers are actively investigating whether the current health secretary made false stat…: Lawmakers are actively investigating whether the current health secretary made false statements under oath during his Senate confirmation hearings.
- The Department of Health and Human Services strongly denies the allegations, maintaining…: The Department of Health and Human Services strongly denies the allegations, maintaining the Samoa trip was entirely unrelated to vaccines.
- Democratic committee leaders are utilizing their regained majorities in Congress to escal…: Democratic committee leaders are utilizing their regained majorities in Congress to escalate oversight of administration officials and past nonprofit ties.