On Aug. 27, 2026, a Pennsylvania coroner verified that a baby with measles died of a ruptured spleen. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested that the measles deaths might be "fabricated" and spread MMR misinformation. Politico and Axios say a growing clash pitting Kennedy and Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro about state secrecy surrounding measles deaths.
Separately, documents secured by The Guardian and AP indicate that Kennedy lied to Congress about a 2019 trip to Samoa. A senator demanded a criminal investigation.