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President Trump Orders Release of Additional Assassination Files for JFK, RFK, & Dr. King
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a historic move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday mandating the release of additional government files related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy (JFK), Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As was reported by The Epoch Times on Thursday, Trump described the decision as a long-awaited moment of transparency, declaring, “A lot of people have been waiting for this for years, for decades. And everything will be revealed.”
The executive order follows Trump’s January 19 pre-inauguration rally in Washington, where he promised to release the remaining assassination files. This decision has reignited public interest in three of the most consequential assassinations in American history, each of which profoundly altered the political and social landscape of the United States. The report in The Epoch Times highlighted the symbolic importance of the move, as mistrust in government institutions—rooted in part in the lack of transparency surrounding these events—persists to this day.
The release builds on prior efforts by both Trump and former President Joe Biden to disclose documents related to JFK’s assassination. According to the National Archives, 99 percent of the assassination records had been made public by 2023. However, Biden delayed the release of certain files, citing concerns over “identifiable harms to the military defense, intelligence operations, law enforcement, and the conduct of foreign relations.” Trump’s latest order overrides these delays, asserting that the public’s right to know outweighs the risks of withholding information.
The JFK Assassination: A Legacy of Questions
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most scrutinized events in modern history. As The Epoch Times reported, the FBI accused Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine who defected to the Soviet Union after embracing Marxism, of acting as the lone gunman responsible for Kennedy’s death. However, Oswald’s murder just two days later by nightclub owner Jack Ruby fueled decades of speculation about a broader conspiracy.
Public skepticism about the official narrative remains widespread. The Epoch Times report cited a Gallup poll conducted in October 2023, which found that 65 percent of Americans reject the idea that a lone gunman was solely responsible for JFK’s assassination. This enduring doubt calls attention to the public’s demand for transparency and accountability regarding the events of 1963.
Files on RFK and Dr. King
In addition to the JFK files, Trump’s order also includes records related to the assassinations of RFK and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., two pivotal figures of the 1960s whose deaths marked devastating blows to the civil rights movement and broader social progress.
RFK, then a Democratic presidential candidate, was assassinated in Los Angeles in 1968, just moments after delivering a victory speech following his win in the California primary. Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant, was arrested and convicted for the murder, but questions about Sirhan’s motives and the possibility of additional conspirators have persisted.
On August 27, 2021, Sirhan Sirhan was granted parole by a California parole board after 53 years of incarceration. The decision, rendered during Sirhan’s 16th parole hearing, was a contentious one, exposing divisions within the Kennedy family and reigniting national debate over justice, rehabilitation, and accountability.
The two-person panel from the parole board voted to grant Sirhan parole, citing his perceived rehabilitation and the conclusion that he no longer posed a threat to society. Commissioner Robert Barton, speaking during the hearing, addressed Sirhan directly, stating, “We think that you have grown,” reflecting the board’s assessment of his development during his decades in prison.
This recommendation marked a significant moment in a case that has long captivated public attention. However, the decision was not final. Under California law, the parole board’s recommendation underwent a 90-day review by the California Board of Parole Hearings, followed by a 30-day window during which the governor of California—at the time, Gavin Newsom—could grant, reverse, or modify the decision.
The decision to grant parole to Sirhan was met with starkly opposing views from members of the Kennedy family. Two of Robert F. Kennedy’s surviving sons, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Douglas Kennedy, supported the parole recommendation, signaling a belief in forgiveness and rehabilitation.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken figure who has publicly questioned the official narrative of his father’s assassination, voiced his support during the hearing. His position reflected a broader skepticism about Sirhan’s role in the assassination and a recognition of his decades-long incarceration.
Douglas Kennedy also spoke in favor of Sirhan’s release, framing his support as an act of personal forgiveness. “I’m overwhelmed just by being able to see Mr. Sirhan face to face,” he stated during the hearing. “I think I’ve lived my life both in fear of him and his name in one way or another. And I am grateful today to see him as a human being worthy of compassion and love.”
According to a Wikpedia report, six other surviving children of Robert F. Kennedy—Joseph P. Kennedy II, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Christopher G. Kennedy, Maxwell T. Kennedy, and Rory Kennedy—opposed parole for Sirhan, and urged the full parole board or Governor Gavin Newsom to reverse the recommendation. They filed a statement with the parole board on August 27, 2021, opposing Sirhan’s release. Rory Kennedy wrote a guest essay in the New York Times saying that Sirhan did not deserve parole, citing his lack of remorse and unwillingness to accept responsibility.
Dr. King, the foremost leader of the civil rights movement, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, the same year. James Earl Ray, a convicted felon, was arrested and pleaded guilty to the killing, though many—including members of King’s family—have questioned whether Ray acted alone. As The Epoch Times notes, the newly released records may provide insights into the investigations and potential controversies surrounding these tragic events.
Trump’s decision to release the remaining files comes at a time of heightened public skepticism toward government transparency. As The Epoch Times report indicated, the JFK assassination itself coincided with a growing mistrust in federal institutions, a sentiment that lingers today. By making these documents available, Trump is seeking to address longstanding questions and provide closure for those who believe key details about the assassinations have been hidden for decades.
“This is a big one,” Trump remarked during the signing ceremony in the Oval Office, acknowledging the historical and emotional significance of the release. The report in The Epoch Times noted that the disclosure could shed light on critical aspects of the investigations, including the roles of federal agencies like the FBI and CIA, which have long been accused of withholding information.
A Historic Step Toward Truth
Trump’s executive order represents a monumental step in the pursuit of clarity surrounding three of America’s most consequential assassinations. By prioritizing transparency and fulfilling his promise to release the remaining files, Trump has addressed a decades-long demand for answers.
As the report in The Epoch Times emphasized, the release of these documents may not only shed light on historical events but also serve as a critical moment in the broader effort to rebuild trust in American institutions. While questions about the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and Dr. King may never be fully resolved, the availability of new information marks an important step in uncovering the truth.
