A group of lawmakers is formally requesting a criminal investigation into Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing his 2019 trip to Samoa as a catalyst for public health crises. The lawmakers allege that Kennedy used his platform to spread misinformation regarding vaccine safety during a period when the region was vulnerable to disease. Following his visit, Samoa experienced a significant measles outbreak that resulted in the deaths of 83 individuals, many of whom were children.

Proponents of the investigation argue that Kennedy’s advocacy against established medical guidance directly undermined local immunization efforts, creating the conditions for the outbreak to turn deadly. They are calling for both a criminal probe into his activities and his removal from consideration for any public health-related appointments. Kennedy has previously defended his work in Samoa, maintaining that he was providing information to parents concerned about vaccine safety and that he did not cause the outbreak. The lawmakers involved in this call for action contend that the evidence linking his rhetoric to the decline in vaccination rates is sufficient to warrant federal scrutiny. As of now, no formal criminal charges have been filed, and the request remains a political maneuver by members of Congress seeking to highlight Kennedy's past public health advocacy.