MLK Assassination Files Released
Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, has announced a significant release of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. This collection comprises over 230,000 pages detailing the investigation into Dr. King’s assassination.
This action was a collaboration between several agencies, including the Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA, and the National Archives. It follows a presidential executive order issued by Trump in January, which also aimed to declassify records related to the assassinations of both Robert F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy.
Interestingly, Gabbard noted that the documents concerning MLK were never digitized and had not been scrutinized by government archives before this release, unlike the JFK files.
“After nearly 60 years, Americans deserve clarity on the federal investigation surrounding Dr. King’s assassination,” Gabbard remarked.
In her statement, she highlighted that this release marks a crucial moment in providing transparency about such a pivotal event in U.S. history.
The documents include an FBI memo regarding the investigation’s progress and details about James Earl Ray, who was convicted for MLK’s assassination. Ray, who had claimed involvement in a conspiracy against Dr. King, was sentenced to 99 years in prison but later attempted to retract his confession.
Additional records from Canadian police detail Ray’s escape post-assassination, along with CIA intelligence focused on capturing him.
John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, emphasized that today’s release signifies a major leap toward transparency for the American public and is a part of President Trump’s broader effort to declassify significant historical records.
Although some documents had been made available through previous FOIA requests, this represents the first time such a large volume has been published together online. Future discoveries will be compiled into a centralized collection.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, remarked that this release reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, citing unprecedented speeds in reviewing and sharing these records.
Dr. Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece, was given early access to the documents and expressed her gratitude towards Trump and Gabbard for their efforts. She highlighted that while they continue to mourn Dr. King, the release represents a vital step toward the truth that Americans have long sought.
