A senior Democratic senator is asking for a felony investigation into the US well being secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, following reporting by the Guardian that indicated he lied throughout Senate affirmation hearings final yr.
Ron Wyden of Oregon stated: “RFK’s platform is constructed on lies and grifts that depart a path of lifeless youngsters of their wake. There are penalties for mendacity to Congress.”
The Guardian’s reporting was based mostly on letters that have been obtained – by this information outlet and the Related Press – following a Freedom of Data Act lawsuit.
Wyden stated in an announcement to the Guardian that he can be urgent Republican colleagues, who at present management the Senate, to concern a felony referral of Kennedy to the Division of Justice for a felony investigation. “And when Democrats retake the bulk within the Senate, RFK will probably be on the high of the checklist of Trump officers the finance committee will maintain accountable for endangering American households,” he stated. Wyden at present serves as the highest Democrat on the finance committee.
Additionally on Thursday, the federal government watchdog group American Oversight despatched a letter to the justice division requesting that it instantly open an investigation into whether or not Kennedy violated the regulation by making false statements to Congress.
Different Democratic officers known as for Kennedy to be eliminated or depart workplace within the wake of the brand new reporting.
Wyden was among the many senators who requested Kennedy throughout two affirmation hearings final yr a couple of 2019 journey he took to Samoa, at a time when Kennedy was main an anti-vaccine group. Months later, a measles outbreak sickened hundreds and killed 83 individuals, largely youngsters below 5.
When requested in regards to the journey by Wyden and Ed Markey, the senator from Massachusetts, Kennedy testified that his go to had “nothing to do with vaccines”. The newly obtained letters contradict that testimony. In a single, Kennedy explicitly instructed the Samoan prime minister he wished to review the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine within the Pacific island nation and used the phrases “vaccine” or “vaccination” eight instances.
“Mendacity to Congress is a criminal offense, whether or not or not the witness is below oath,” Josh Chafetz, a professor of regulation and politics at Georgetown College Legislation Middle, stated. “However this may require the chief department to prosecute, and Trump’s [justice department] is unlikely to take action.”
Nonetheless, attorneys with experience in Senate process stated that if Democrats win management of the Home or Senate in November’s elections, they might use Kennedy’s statements as grounds for hearings or an impeachment inquiry, or to create different obstacles for the Trump administration.
Markey additionally weighed in on the brand new reporting, saying the data present it was false when Kennedy stated his journey had “nothing to do with vaccines”.
“This can be a sample, not a slip. RFK Jr has lied to the Senate, lied to the American individuals and jeopardized the well being of kids to advance his anti-vaccine agenda,” Markey stated. “He ought to by no means have been confirmed, and he can’t be trusted to run [the Department of Health and Human Services] for even yet another day.”
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Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, a member of the Senate well being, schooling, labor and pensions committee, which oversees Kennedy’s division, repeated her name that the well being secretary resign or be fired.
And Hawaii’s governor, Josh Inexperienced, a medical physician who traveled to Samoa to assist in the measles response in 2019, once more known as for him to step down.
“It’s clear that Kennedy misled Congress about his intentions in Samoa and his stance on vaccinations throughout his affirmation hearings two years in the past. It’s time for him to instantly resign,” Inexperienced stated. “He should do that for the security and well being of our nation.”
The federal statute of limitations for mendacity to Congress is 5 years, that means a brand new justice division below the subsequent president in 2029 may theoretically examine the case.
The Guardian sought remark from the Division of Well being and Human Companies in regards to the Democratic officers’ requires investigation or removing, but it surely didn’t instantly reply. In a beforehand issued assertion it stated Kennedy’s go to to Samoa “was unrelated to vaccines. Any declare or insinuation based mostly on these letters that Secretary Kennedy lied below oath or to Congress isn’t solely false however outright defamatory.”
Kennedy was not below oath through the two affirmation hearings. Wyden’s employees stated whether or not he was below oath isn’t related since it’s a crime to lie throughout a affirmation listening to both approach.