RFK Jr Faces Allegations of Deception in Senate Confirmation Hearing
Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US Health Secretary, is under intense scrutiny after newly disclosed emails suggest he provided misleading testimony during his Senate confirmation hearings. The controversy centres on a trip he took to Samoa in June 2019, just months before a devastating measles outbreak that resulted in 83 deaths, primarily among young children.
Emails Contradict Kennedy's Testimony on Samoa Visit
During two days of questioning before the Senate Finance Committee in January 2025, Kennedy repeatedly asserted that his journey to Samoa had "nothing to do with vaccines." However, internal communications from the US embassy and United Nations, obtained by the Guardian and Associated Press through a freedom of information lawsuit, indicate that staff were aware Kennedy was visiting due to his concerns about vaccine safety. These records directly undermine his sworn statements to Congress.
Congressional and Gubernatorial Outcry Over Misleading Statements
Three members of Congress have publicly accused Kennedy of lying under oath. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts stated in a social media post, "RFK Jr is a liar. He lied to me about his anti-vax Samoa trip." Markey emphasised that making false statements to Congress is a federal crime and called for Kennedy's immediate removal from office. Representative Haley Stevens from Michigan, who introduced articles of impeachment against Kennedy in December, argued that misleading Congress constitutes an impeachable offence, citing his alleged undermining of public health authority.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green, a medical doctor who led a vaccination mission in Samoa during the 2019 crisis, also condemned Kennedy's actions. Green highlighted the catastrophic impact of the measles outbreak, describing overwhelmed hospitals and infant fatalities. He asserted that Kennedy's dissemination of misinformation contributed to plummeting vaccination rates in Samoa and questioned his suitability as health secretary, suggesting he might be better suited to roles in nutrition or environmental policy.
Background and Impact of the Samoa Measles Crisis
The measles outbreak in Samoa began in October 2019, following a tragic incident in July 2018 where two babies died after receiving a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine improperly mixed with an expired muscle relaxant. This led to a suspension of the vaccination programme, leaving many children unprotected. Kennedy's anti-vaccine group, Children's Health Defense, initiated contact with Samoan officials through local activists in January 2019, and his visit in June included meetings with the prime minister and health officials, as well as figures sceptical of vaccines.
Kennedy has maintained that his trip was intended to introduce a medical data system and that conversations about vaccines were incidental. However, Samoan officials have reported that his presence bolstered anti-vaccine activists, exacerbating the public health emergency.
Broader Implications for US Public Health Policy
This revelation comes amid a year where Kennedy has utilised his position to reshape federal vaccine recommendations, aligning them with his anti-vaccine views. Measles has subsequently gained traction in various US communities, raising concerns about the nation's measles elimination status. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon echoed calls for accountability, stating that Kennedy and his allies would be held responsible for their actions.
Despite the mounting criticism, spokespeople for Kennedy at the Department of Health and Human Services have not responded to requests for comment. The impeachment effort led by Representative Stevens is viewed as unlikely to succeed, given Republican control of the House and reported opposition from Democratic leadership.
Governor Green concluded by stressing the importance of truthfulness in confirmation processes, stating, "It is unacceptable to not share the truth with the committees when they’re confirming you. You cannot misrepresent what you’ve done in your life."
