The Trump administration has begun releasing the first batch of previously classified records relating to the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, providing the public with access to more than 10,000 pages of government files and potentially reigniting debate over the killing that took place nearly six decades ago.
The declassification effort was ordered by President Donald Trump shortly after taking office and is backed by the senator’s son, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The first tranche of files became available online on Friday, with further records expected in the coming months.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who is overseeing the release, said the move reflects the administration’s commitment to transparency.
“Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government's investigation,” Gabbard said.
Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation thanks to @POTUS leadership and commitment to maximum transparency.… pic.twitter.com/Wvy2fkS9Ai
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) April 18, 2025
The newly available files have been released in partnership with the National Archives and are being published with limited redactions for privacy reasons.
According to Gabbard, another 50,000 pages of material related to the assassination were found in FBI and CIA storage facilities and will be reviewed and made available in due course.
The assassination of Senator Kennedy occurred in Los Angeles in June 1968 while he was running for president. Sirhan Sirhan was arrested at the scene and later convicted of murder. While Sirhan has admitted to the killing at various times, he has also denied responsibility or claimed memory loss.
His requests for parole have been repeatedly denied, most recently overturned by California Governor Gavin Newsom after a 2021 recommendation by the state’s parole board.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long questioned the official account of his father’s death. He has voiced support for the declassification process and, in a notable departure from his siblings, advocated for Sirhan’s release during his 2021 parole hearing.
“I’m very grateful,” Kennedy Jr. said regarding the document release.
While much of the original investigation was handled by Los Angeles officials and FBI documents have been publicly available through California archives for years, it remains unclear whether the newly released federal records will provide significant new insight.
Some researchers remain sceptical of the conviction, citing disputed witness accounts and reports of additional bullets at the crime scene, while others maintain that Sirhan acted alone.
The Trump administration’s release of the RFK files follows similar efforts involving the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the 1968 killing of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Whether these newly disclosed documents will shed light on lingering questions or fuel further speculation remains to be seen, but the move marks a significant step in making previously sealed government records accessible to the public.
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