Declassification of JFK, MLK, RFK files could shed new light on tragic killings

Public and families await new revelations that could reshape the historical view of these tragedies.

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US President Donald Trump has announced an executive order to declassify the remaining government files on three of the most high-profile assassinations in US history: President John F Kennedy in 1963, Rev Martin Luther King Jr in 1968, and Senator Robert F Kennedy in 1968, according to CNN.

This move, which fulfills a campaign promise, will allow the public access to long-held documents surrounding these infamous killings, though experts caution that it may not resolve all the unanswered questions or dispel the conspiracy theories that have persisted for decades.

Trump, during the announcement, promised that “everything will be revealed,” as he signed the order with his characteristic Sharpie. However, some analysts believe the documents will add important details but likely fail to provide a “smoking gun” that could conclusively settle the mysteries.

The process of releasing government files on the JFK assassination began in 1992 with the passing of the JFK Records Act, which mandated the public release of all related documents unless the president determined that withholding them was necessary for national security.

However, when the deadline for full declassification arrived in 2017, President Trump extended the process, citing national security and foreign affairs concerns.

Under Trump’s new executive order, the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General have 15 days to present a plan for the full release of JFK-related documents. Similarly, the files related to the assassinations of MLK and RFK must be reviewed within 45 days.

The official government investigation into JFK’s assassination, conducted by the Warren Commission, concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Despite this conclusion, public skepticism remains high, with numerous conspiracy theories suggesting the involvement of other individuals or groups.

According to Gallup polls, more than 50% of Americans have consistently questioned the official narrative, believing that a broader conspiracy was behind Kennedy’s death.

Tom Samoluk, a former board member of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, who reviewed the JFK files in the 1990s, notes that the newly released documents may add “puzzle pieces” but are unlikely to change the longstanding theories about a conspiracy.

While some experts, such as journalist Gerald Posner, argue that the release will provide more clarity about the government’s actions surrounding Oswald and the events of that day, they also acknowledge that conspiracy theorists will likely continue to search for answers outside of the declassified documents.

The investigation into the assassination of RFK is more complex. Although most related documents were released by local agencies and the FBI to the California State Archives in the late 1980s, some experts, like Tim Tate, a British author who co-wrote a book on the assassination, suspect that the CIA may still be withholding critical information.

If these files are included in the new release, they could shed light on the agency’s possible involvement in the assassination and its strained relationship with RFK.

RFK Jr, the son of the slain senator, has expressed doubts about the official narrative, suggesting that Sirhan Sirhan, the convicted assassin, was not solely responsible. Kennedy Jr. has raised the possibility of the involvement of RFK’s own security detail in his father’s death.

Meanwhile, the family of MLK Jr has expressed concerns over the release of documents related to his assassination. While the family had previously agreed to keep certain files classified, some members have hinted at a desire to review them before they are made public.

The House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded that there was "probably a conspiracy" in King’s death, though no additional suspects were named. King’s family has long questioned the official investigation, particularly in light of the FBI’s aggressive surveillance of the civil rights leader.

As the declassification process unfolds, both the public and the families of the victims will be watching closely for any new revelations that may alter the historical understanding of these tragic events.

While the release of documents is expected to provide more insight into the government’s actions and the political climate of the time, experts warn that it is unlikely to fully resolve the conspiracy theories or offer conclusive evidence that could put the longstanding questions to rest.

Despite the growing mountain of declassified material over the years, including more than 70,000 JFK documents released since 2017, the mystery surrounding these assassinations remains a central topic of debate.

As President Trump’s executive order sets the stage for further disclosures, it may only fuel more questions and theories in the decades-old investigations of America’s darkest tragedies.