The Guardian - Opinion - Senator calls for criminal investigation of RFK Jr after Guardian report

Aug 28, 2026

Senator Ron Wyden and other Democratic officials call for a criminal investigation into US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr after Guardian reporting tied new letters to claims he misled Congress during Senate confirmation hearings. Wyden says Kennedy’s statements show “lies and grifts” with consequences, while American Oversight urges the Justice Department to open an investigation. The letters allegedly contradict Kennedy’s denial that a 2019 Samoa trip was connected to vaccines, citing his stated intent to study the MMR vaccine and supporting an inquiry into false statements, per legal experts and officials.

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Opinion

Senator calls for criminal investigation of RFK Jr after Guardian report

Senate confirmation hearings and alleged false statements

Requests for Justice Department action and potential consequences

Headlines Race to get aid into Nepal and Tibet amidwarnings flood lake could burst # Opinion Jon Ossoff went low onNatalie Harp.The planworkedMoira Donegan→page 23Publishedin New York,United States TheeditionGuardian ▲Robert F Kennedy Jr at a press conference on 5August 2026 in Lexington,Kentucky.Photograph:Michael Swensen/Getty Images # Senator calls for criminal investigation of RFK JrafterGuardian report AseniorDemocratic senatoriscalling foracriminal investigationinto the US health secretaryRobertFKennedy Jr,followingreporting by the Guardian thatindicated he lied during Senateconfirmation hearingslastyear. Ron Wyden of Oregon said:"RFK'splatformis builton lies andgriftsthat leaveatrailofdeadchildren in their wake.There areconsequences for lyingtoCongress." The Guardian's reporting wasbasedon lettersthat wereobtained-by this newsoutlet andthe Associated Press-followingaFreedomofInformation Act lawsuit. Wyden said in astatement totheGuardianthat he wouldbepressing Republican colleagues,who currently controlthe Senate,toissue acriminalreferralofKennedy to the Department ofJustice for acriminalinvestigation.“And whenDemocrats retake the majority inthe Senate,RFKwillbe at the topof the list of Trumpofficials thefinance committee will holdaccountable forendangeringAmerican families"he said.Wyden currently serves as the topDemocrat on the financecommittee. Alsoon Thursday,thegovernment watchdoggroupAmerican Oversight sent aletter to the justice departmentrequesting that it immediatelyopen an investigationintowhether Kennedy violated the lawby making false statements toCongress. Other Democraticofficialscalled for Kennedy toberemovedorleaveoffice in thewake of thenew reporting. Wyden was among thesenators who asked Kennedyduring two confirmation hearingslastyear about a2019triphe tookto Samoa,at atime when Kennedywasleadingananti-vaccine group.Months later,a measles outbreaksickenedthousands and killed83people,mostly children underfive. When asked about the tripby Wyden and Ed Markey,thesenator fromMassachusetts,Kennedy testified that his visithad "nothing to do with vaccines".The newly obtainedletterscontradict that testimony.In one,Kennedy explicitly told theSamoan primeminister hewanted to study the measles,mumps and rubella(MMR)vaccine in the Pacific islandnationandused thewords"vaccine"or"vaccination"eighttimes. "Lyingto Congress is acrime,whetherornot thewitness isunder oath,"Josh Chafetz,aprofessor oflaw andpolitics atGeorgetownUniversity LawCenter,said."But this wouldrequire theexecutive branch to prosecute,and Trump's [justicedepartment]is unlikely to do so." Still,attorneys withexpertisein Senate procedure said that ifDemocrats wincontrol of theHouse or Senate in November'selections,they could useKennedys statements as groundsfor hearingsor an impeachmentinquiry,or to create otherobstacles for the Trumpadministration. Markey also weighed inon thenew reporting,saying the recordsshow it was false when Kennedysaid his trip had"nothing to dowith vaccines". "This is apattern,not aslip.RFK Jrhas lied to the Senate,lied The Guardian 28August 2026 Headlines →Continued from page1 health,education,laborand Samoa andhis stanceonvaccinations during hisconfirmation hearings two yearsago.It istime for him toimmediately resign,Green said."Hemust dothisfor the safety andhealthofourcountry. theoretically investigate the case. Kennedy lied under oathorto pensions committee,which The Guardian soughtcomment from the Department ofHealthand HumanServicesabouttheDemocratic officials'calls forinvestigationor removal,but it didnot immediately respond.Inapreviously issuedstatement itsaid Kennedy's visit to Samoa"was unrelated to vaccines.Anyclaim or insinuation basedonthese letters that Secretary Congressis notonly false but outright defamatory. to the American people andjeopardized the health ofchildrentoadvance his anti-vaccineagenda,"Markey said."He shouldnever havebeen confirmed

FAQs

Why are Democrats calling for a criminal investigation into RFK Jr?

They cite Guardian reporting based on newly obtained letters suggesting he lied to Congress during Senate confirmation hearings.

What did Wyden say about the impact of Kennedy’s actions?

Wyden said Kennedy’s “platform is built on lies and grifts” and urged consequences for lying to Congress.

How do the newly obtained letters allegedly contradict Kennedy’s testimony?

The letters are said to show Kennedy told the Samoan prime minister he wanted to study the MMR vaccine, using terms like “vaccine” multiple times, contradicting his claim the trip had nothing to do with vaccines.

Aug 28, 2026

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