Trump Orders Release of JFK and MLK Assassination Documents
Trump Orders Release of JFK and MLK Assassination Documents.
US President Donald Trump has instructed officials to prepare plans for the declassification of documents pertaining to three of the most significant assassinations in American history: the murders of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
"A lot of people are waiting for this for long, for years, for decades," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. "And everything will be revealed."
The directive mandates senior administration officials to formulate a strategy for declassifying the documents within a period of 15 days.
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963. His brother, Robert F. Kennedy, was also killed while campaigning for the presidency in California in 1968, merely two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Over the years, many documents pertaining to the investigations have been made public; however, thousands remain redacted, especially those associated with the extensive JFK investigation.
President John F. Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine who had defected to the Soviet Union before returning to the United States.
A government inquiry concluded that Oswald acted independently.
Nevertheless, the case has been plagued by lingering questions, leading to various alternative theories regarding the potential involvement of government agents, organized crime, and other dubious figures, as well as more extravagant conspiracy theories.
Numerous opinion polls conducted over the years have shown that a significant majority of Americans do not accept the notion that Oswald acted alone as the assassin.
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In 1992, legislation was enacted by Congress mandating the release of all documents pertaining to the investigation within a 25-year timeframe. During their respective administrations, both President Trump and President Joe Biden made efforts to disclose a substantial number of documents related to JFK; however, thousands of documents—out of millions—remain either partially or fully classified.
Although Trump initially vowed to declassify all relevant files during his first term, he ultimately retracted this commitment after being influenced by officials from the CIA and FBI to maintain the confidentiality of certain documents. The current executive order asserts that ongoing secrecy "is not consistent with the public interest."
"As a statement of intention it's great that the president has put his promise into words on paper. That's important," said Jefferson Morley, a former Washington Post journalist, JFK assassination expert and editor of the online newsletter JFK Facts, external.
"But the details and implementation are everything. This process is just beginning. How exactly this is going to be carried out is not at all clear," he said.
Recent document disclosures have unveiled additional information regarding the events leading up to the assassination, particularly concerning the CIA's comprehensive surveillance of Oswald.
In 2023, Paul Landis, an 88-year-old ex-Secret Service agent who observed the assassination from a close distance, stated that he retrieved a bullet from the vehicle following Kennedy's shooting.
Experts indicate that this information complicates the official narrative suggesting that a single bullet struck both President Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally, who was present in the motorcade and survived the attack.
Mr. Morley stated that the recent revelations have raised additional questions regarding the theory of Oswald's solitary involvement and expressed the belief that a complete disclosure of all redacted documents could greatly enhance public understanding.
However, he cautioned that there might not be a definitive piece of evidence, and that officials from the CIA and other security agencies are likely to advocate for the preservation of certain levels of confidentiality.
"This story is not over," he said.
During the signing ceremony held at the White House on Thursday, Trump requested that the pen he used to sign the order be presented to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is the son of RFK, the nephew of JFK, and the president's nominee for the position of health secretary.
RFK Jr. has consistently expressed skepticism regarding the official accounts of both his uncle's and his father's assassinations.
Robert F. Kennedy Sr. was assassinated in a Los Angeles ballroom by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian individual who was motivated by resentment towards U.S. support for Israel. RFK Jr. has communicated with Sirhan while he was incarcerated and has publicly stated his belief that Sirhan did not assassinate his father, a view that is not shared by other members of the Kennedy family.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by white nationalist James Earl Ray. Members of the King family have claimed that Ray did not act independently and was involved in a broader conspiracy.
The decision to declassify documents related to the JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations marks a significant step toward transparency and accountability. By making these records available, the public gains an opportunity to uncover new insights into these pivotal moments in American history.
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This move fosters a sense of closure for many who have long sought answers and challenges longstanding conspiracy theories. As the process unfolds, it holds the potential to deepen our understanding of the past while reinforcing the importance of openness in government. Ultimately, it underscores the commitment to ensuring that historical truths are accessible to all.
