politics
RFK told Congress he didn't go to Samoa in 2019 to study measles vaccines — so why does his old letter mention it eight times?
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeatedly told lawmakers who held the key to his confirmation last year that a 2019 visit to Samoa before a deadly measles outbreak had “nothing to do with vaccines.” New documents obtained by The Associated Press and The Guardian refute that testimony.
TL;DR
- New documents contradict Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s testimony to Congress about his 2019 visit to Samoa.
- Kennedy told lawmakers the trip had "nothing to do with vaccines," but a letter shows he requested to study Samoa's MMR vaccines.
- The letter, written on Children's Health Defense letterhead, mentioned "vaccine" or "vaccination" eight times.
- Kennedy's statements have drawn criticism from some politicians who accuse him of lying or misleading the Senate.
- The Samoan government halted vaccinations for 10 months prior to Kennedy's visit due to the deaths of two children after receiving the MMR vaccine.
- Kennedy's visit occurred before a deadly measles outbreak in Samoa that killed 83 people, mostly children.
- Senator Bill Cassidy, who supported Kennedy's confirmation, stated his trust in Kennedy was broken due to a violation of commitments regarding vaccine policies.
- The Department of Health and Human Services stated Kennedy did not lie and that the Samoa visit was unrelated to vaccines.