Somebody’s Lying: Susan Monarez’s Congressional Testimony Is 180 Degrees From RFK Jr.’s

Summary

Timothy Geigner reports on sharply conflicting accounts given to Congress by Dr Susan Monarez and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy previously said Monarez told him she was not a trustworthy person and that he fired her for that reason. Monarez, in testimony this week, directly contradicts him: she says Kennedy told her he could not trust her after she spoke with members of Congress and demanded she pre-commit to approving all ACIP vaccine recommendations and sack career vaccine officials without cause. The article underlines that one of these accounts is false, notes neither witness was sworn in, and calls for investigation and possible accountability given the legal exposure for lying to Congress.

Key Points

RFK Jr. claimed he fired Monarez because she admitted she was “not trustworthy” when asked.
Monarez testified the opposite: Kennedy told her he could not trust her after she spoke with Congress, and she replied that he could fire her if he felt that way.
Monarez says Kennedy demanded she promise to rubber‑stamp ACIP vaccination recommendations and dismiss career officials—orders she refused.
Neither witness testified under oath, but lying to Congress could still carry legal consequences under false statements, obstruction and contempt statutes.
The discrepancy raises calls for further investigation, with Senator Bill Cassidy singled out as someone who should push to get to the bottom of the matter.

Why should I read this?

Short version: it’s a proper political car crash and you should know which way the smoke’s blowing. Two very different stories about why a CDC director was fired matter for public health policy and whether senior officials are being pressured to ignore scientific evidence. Read this if you want the cliff‑notes on why this fight could have real consequences — and who might be on the hook if someone lied to Congress.