US President Donald Trump announced an executive order to declassify remaining government files on three of the most high-profile assassinations in US history: President John F Kennedy in 1963, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr in 1968 and Senator Robert F Kennedy in 1968, according to CNN.
The move, which fulfills a campaign promise, will allow the public to access long-standing documents surrounding the infamous murders, although experts warn it does not resolve all unanswered questions or dispel theories of conspiracy that persisted for decades.
Trump, during the announcement, promised that “all will be revealed,” as he signed the order with his trademark Sharpie. However, some analysts believe the documents will add important details but likely fall short of providing a “smoking gun” that could conclusively settle the mysteries.
The process of releasing government records on the JFK assassination began in 1992 with the passage of the JFK Records Act, which mandated the public release of all related records unless the President determined that withholding was necessary to 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 documents related to JFK. Likewise, files related to the assassinations of MLK and RFK must be reviewed within 45 days.
The government’s official investigation into the JFK assassination, led by the Warren Commission, concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Despite this finding, public skepticism remains high, with many conspiracy theories suggesting the involvement of other individuals or groups.
According to Gallup polls, more than 50 percent 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 examined the JFK files in the 1990s, notes that the newly released documents may add “puzzle pieces” but are unlikely than long-standing conspiracy theories.
While some experts, such as journalist Gerald Posner, argue that the release will provide more clarity on the government’s actions surrounding Oswald and the events of that day, they also acknowledge that conspiracy theorists will likely continue to look outside for answers. declassified documents.
The investigation into RFK’s assassination is more complex. Although most of the related documents were released by local agencies and the FBI to the California State Archives in the late 1980s, some experts, such as Tim Tate, a British author who co-wrote a book on assassination, suspects the CIA might still be withholding critical information.
If these files are included in the new version, 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, expressed doubts about the official account, suggesting that Sirhan Sirhan, the convicted assassin, was not solely responsible. Kennedy Jr. raised the possibility of the involvement of RFK’s own security details in his father’s death.
Meanwhile, MLK JR’s family has expressed concerns over the release of documents related to his assassination. Although the family previously agreed to keep some files classified, some members have hinted at a desire to review them before being made public.
The House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded that there was “probably a conspiracy” in King’s death, although 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, the public and the victims’ families will closely monitor any new revelations that could alter the historical understanding of these tragic events.
Although the release of documents is expected to provide insight into government actions and the political climate of the time, experts warn that it is unlikely to fully resolve conspiracy theories or offer conclusive evidence that could rest long-standing questions.
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.
While President Trump’s executive order clears the way for new disclosures, it cannot fuel more questions and theories in the decades-old investigations into America’s darkest tragedies.
