Trump orders release of remaining classified documents surrounding assassination of President John F. Kennedy
Date
2/1/2025 12:54:20 AM
(MENAFN) President Donald trump has ordered the release of the remaining classified documents surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a decision that could finally shed light on over 5,000 still-secret files. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in November 1963, and the Warren Commission concluded that lone gunman Lee Harvey Oswald was responsible. However, many Americans have long questioned this finding, with the CIA coining the term "conspiracy theory" to dismiss alternative explanations. Trump's directive also includes the declassification of records related to the 1968 assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. According to the National Archives, nearly all of the approximately 320,000 documents related to JFK’s death have been declassified, but 2,140 documents remain redacted, and another 2,500 are still classified for various reasons.
Among the remaining documents are some intriguing ones, such as a June 1961 memo by White House adviser Arthur Schlesinger outlining JFK’s plan to dismantle the CIA after the Bay of Pigs disaster. Another record of interest is CIA Counterintelligence Chief James Angleton's testimony in 1976, which some believe might reveal the CIA's involvement with Israel’s nuclear program. There are also records about Oswald’s visits to Mexico and his ties with CIA operatives in Miami, potentially shedding new light on his connections. However, experts warn that no dramatic revelations, or "smoking guns," are expected from the declassified materials. Instead, researchers anticipate the unveiling of additional details that may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the events.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has praised the decision to declassify the files, calling it a step toward exposing decades of misinformation regarding JFK’s assassination and subsequent events. He believes there is compelling evidence linking the CIA to the deaths of his uncle and father. The release process will begin with a review of the documents, with both the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General having 45 days to outline a plan for their full release. The timeline for the release depends on whether the review is substantive or more mechanical.
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