Based on reporting by The Guardian and AP

Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland told Children's Health Defense in a letter dated Wednesday that they are opening an inquiry into Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2019 trip to Samoa and related statements to the Senate, according to reporting published Thursday^1,2.

The Guardian described the letter as obtained by that newspaper and said it asks the group Kennedy once chaired for records on Samoa travel, his 2024 presidential campaign, his confirmation process, and communications with federal officials since Jan. 20, 2025, with a Dec. 4 deadline¹. AP reported the same request covering Samoa travel, the 2024 campaign and confirmation².

Wyden is in line to chair the Senate Finance Committee in January after Democrats won Senate control in the midterms^1,2. The inquiry follows August reporting by The Guardian and the Associated Press on letters, including one Kennedy sent the Samoan prime minister before the trip, that the outlets said mentioned vaccines multiple times^1,2.

Kennedy told senators during January 2025 confirmation hearings that the Samoa visit had nothing to do with vaccines, those outlets reported^1,2. The Health and Human Services Department previously said the visit was unrelated to vaccines and called suggestions that he lied to Congress false and defamatory, AP reported². Children's Health Defense and HHS did not immediately comment Thursday, The Guardian reported¹.