Newly Released Emails Challenge Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Statements on 2019 Samoa Trip
Newly released government records indicate that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Samoa in 2019 as part of a mission to evaluate medical data following a decline in vaccination rates, directly contradicting his previous testimony to the U.S. Senate. Emails obtained through a public records lawsuit reveal that his colleague, Dr. Michael Graven, described the trip as a “mission” to study the impact of a “discontinuity in vaccinations,” challenging Kennedy’s prior claims that his visit was unrelated to immunization policy.
Discrepancies in Congressional Testimony
During his 2023 Senate confirmation hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeatedly stated that his 2019 visit to Samoa had “nothing to do with vaccines.” When questioned by Senator Ron Wyden regarding the purpose of his travel, Kennedy maintained that he went to the island nation to introduce a “state-of-the-art medical informatics system” to improve health record efficiency. However, internal communications from the Children’s Health Defense—the organization Kennedy led at the time—frame the trip differently. In an email dated May 13, 2019, Dr. Michael Graven, then the group’s chief information officer, wrote that the “mission involves health informatics evaluation from medical record data… to evaluate outcomes associated with the recent discontinuity in vaccinations.”
Context of the 2019 Measles Outbreak
The 2019 visit occurred during a period of heightened concern regarding public health in Samoa. In 2018, the Samoan government suspended its measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination program for 10 months following the deaths of two infants who received improperly prepared vaccines. This pause led to a significant drop in national vaccination coverage. According to reports from the Guardian, which verified the correspondence through State Department records, the subsequent measles outbreak in late 2019 infected thousands and resulted in 83 deaths, the majority of whom were children under the age of five.
Children’s Health Defense and Vaccine Policy
The emails suggest a strategic interest in the “natural experiment” created by the suspension of vaccinations in Samoa. Kennedy has long advocated for studies comparing the health outcomes of vaccinated versus unvaccinated children—a methodology that mainstream medical organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maintain is unethical and unnecessary given the established safety profile of vaccines. During his time as chair of Children’s Health Defense, Kennedy sought to gather statistical data from hospitals and clinics across the island. Records indicate that while the group aimed to influence vaccination policy, their efforts were viewed as unsuccessful by U.S. government officials stationed in the region.
Comparison of Official Statements and Correspondence
| Source | Claim Regarding 2019 Trip |
|---|---|
| Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (2023 Senate Hearing) | “My purpose in going down there had nothing to do with vaccines.” |
| Dr. Michael Graven (May 2019 Email) | “The mission involves… medical record data… to evaluate outcomes associated with the recent discontinuity in vaccinations.” |
Next Steps for Congressional Oversight
The release of these documents has prompted calls for further scrutiny from lawmakers. Following the publication of the emails, Senator Ron Wyden characterized the findings as evidence that Kennedy misled Congress. The U.S. Department of State continues to release batches of redacted emails related to the trip following an open records lawsuit brought with the support of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. As of late 2024, the administration’s focus remains on how these historical records align with Kennedy’s current role as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and his ongoing efforts to audit government-funded vaccine research.