Politics · November 12, 2026
Senators Investigate Whether RFK Jr. Lied to Congress About Samoa Trip
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Senators Ron Wyden and Angela Alsobrooks have launched an investigation into whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. provided false testimony to Congress during his 2025 confirmation hearings. The inquiry specifically examines Kennedy's statements regarding a 2019 trip to Samoa, which he testified had "nothing to do with vaccines." However, recently surfaced documents and media reports suggest Kennedy wrote to the Samoan Prime Minister prior to the trip proposing an assessment of MMR vaccines. The investigation, led by Wyden as he prepares to chair the Senate Finance Committee in January, also seeks records from Children’s Health Defense, the non-profit organization Kennedy previously chaired.
Read the original coverage
- Associated PressAllSides: Lean LeftMBFC: Left-Center
Senators probing RFK Jr.'s testimony on Samoa trip after AP and Guardian showed documents refute it
Read at Associated Press ↗ Senate Democrats Open Probe Into RFK Jr.’s Measles Statements
Read at Bloomberg ↗- The GuardianMBFC: Left-Center
Senator opens investigation into evidence RFK Jr ‘unlawfully lied’ to Congress
Read at The Guardian ↗ - Washington ExaminerMBFC: Right-Center
Senators launch investigation into RFK Jr. over Samoa trip
Read at Washington Examiner ↗ - Washington TimesMBFC: Right-Center
Senators probing RFK Jr.'s testimony on Samoa trip after AP and Guardian showed documents refute it
Read at Washington Times ↗ - The Epoch TimesMBFC: Right-Center
Democrats Launch New Probes of RFK Jr.
Read at The Epoch Times ↗ - MedPage TodayTrade
Senators Investigate Whether RFK Jr. Lied to Congress About Samoa Trip
Read at MedPage Today ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- Senators Ron Wyden and Angela Alsobrooks are launching an investigation into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- The investigation focuses on whether Kennedy lied to Congress during his 2025 confirmation hearings for HHS Secretary.
- The inquiry centers on a 2019 trip Kennedy took to Samoa.
- During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy testified that the 2019 Samoa trip was not related to vaccines.
- Lawmakers cite reports showing Kennedy wrote a letter to the Samoan Prime Minister in 2019 regarding the MMR vaccine.
Reported by only some outlets
- Senator Wyden is seeking records from Children’s Health Defense including documents related to Kennedy’s presidential campaign and communications between federal health officials and the group.
- The Epoch Times reports that senators are also investigating whether Kennedy improperly took gifts from a donor.
- CNN notes that several Democrats have promised to launch probes and possibly impeach Kennedy next year.
- Bloomberg mentions the investigation also covers statements Kennedy made regarding measles-related deaths.
Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
emphasize that the investigation is based on evidence Kennedy 'unlawfully lied' and highlight his leadership of an 'anti-vaccine group' used to fuel his political rise; frame the inquiry as a necessary response to newly revealed documents that 'refute' his testimony.
Right-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
portray the investigation as a Democratic-led initiative, sometimes grouping it with other 'new probes' by the party, while detailing the specific contents of the 2019 letter to the Samoan Prime Minister.
Centrist outlets tend to focus on…
focus on the procedural launch of the probe by Democratic senators and the conflict between Kennedy’s testimony and the documents reported by media outlets.
Where coverage diverges
Coverage diverges along left/right lines — see Framing tab for specifics.
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