New emails suggest RFK Jr Samoa trip linked to vaccine study
6 reported2 unconfirmed
Newly obtained emails indicate that Robert F Kennedy Jr’s 2019 visit to Samoa was described by a colleague as a “mission” to study medical records after a “discontinuity in vaccinations,” contradicting Kennedy’s Senate testimony that the trip had “nothing to do with vaccines.” The Guardian obtained records showing Dr Michael Graven, then chief information officer of Kennedy’s group Children’s Health Defense, told Samoan officials in March and May 2019 that he and Kennedy would conduct statistical investigations of health outcomes linked to the vaccination pause. Kennedy, now US health secretary, testified at his confirmation hearing last year that he went to Samoa for an independence celebration and to introduce a medical informatics system, not for vaccine-related work. The emails provide the most detailed view yet of the trip, which occurred months before a measles outbreak sickened thousands and killed 83 people, mostly children under five. Kennedy’s spokespeople at the Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment. The US State Department has been turning over the emails, many heavily redacted, since January as part of an open records lawsuit.
What’s reported
Emails obtained by the Guardian show Dr Michael Graven told Samoan officials that he and Kennedy were coming as part of a “mission” to study medical records after a “discontinuity in vaccinations.”
Kennedy testified to the Senate last year that his trip had “nothing to do with vaccines” and that he went to attend a Samoan independence celebration and introduce a medical informatics system.
Kennedy was chair and chief legal counsel of Children’s Health Defense at the time; Graven was the group’s chief information officer.
A measles outbreak months after Kennedy’s visit sickened thousands and killed 83 people, mostly children under five.
The State Department has been turning over the emails in batches since January due to an open records lawsuit.
An email from a State Department employee stationed in Samoa said Graven and Kennedy “fell far short of their goal to influence Samoan government vaccination policy.”
Open questions
Whether Kennedy’s trip directly influenced Samoan vaccination decisions.
The full content of the heavily redacted emails.
Key figures
Robert F Kennedy Jr: US health secretary, former chair of Children’s Health Defense
Dr Michael Graven: former chief information officer of Children’s Health Defense (died 2022)
Ron Wyden: US senator from Oregon
Edward Markey: US senator from Massachusetts
Antone Greubel: State Department employee stationed in Samoa
Cheryl Hines: Kennedy’s wife, actor
Sources: The Guardian
