The Trump administration has released over 240,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The files are now available on the U.S. National Archives website following a January executive order by President Trump.
King Family Criticizes FBI’s Surveillance
The King family voiced concern over the release, citing the FBI’s historic surveillance of MLK under J. Edgar Hoover’s leadership. They called the campaign invasive and politically motivated, intended to discredit King and the civil rights movement. The family emphasized that the records stem from COINTELPRO, an FBI program notorious for undermining political activists, including King, the Black Panther Party, and others.
Fears of Misuse and Legacy Damage
While the family supports transparency, they warn that these files could be used to tarnish King’s legacy. “We strongly condemn any attempts to misuse these documents,” the family stated, urging readers to consider the historical context behind the records.
Critics Call Timing a Distraction
Rev. Al Sharpton and others criticized the timing, suggesting the release serves to distract from political controversies surrounding Trump, especially calls to release files tied to Jeffrey Epstein. Bernice King posted on social media, “Now, do the Epstein files,” reflecting broader public sentiment.
What the Records Include
The newly released files consist of FBI investigations, CIA materials connected to the case, and State Department records on James Earl Ray’s extradition. It remains unclear if the documents reveal new insights, as historians are still reviewing them, similar to the JFK files released in March.
The Assassination and Conspiracy Claims
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray confessed but later recanted, claiming he was framed by a man named Raoul. Allegations from a Memphis tavern owner and a former FBI agent tied the murder to a wider conspiracy involving the mafia, Memphis police, and even figures connected to the Kennedy assassination.
In 1999, a civil jury concluded that King was killed as part of a conspiracy involving government agencies, though the Justice Department has dismissed those findings as unreliable.
How to Access the MLK Files
The public can view the records on the National Archives’ website. Most files are scans of aged documents, with some pages blurred or faint, alongside photographs and audio recordings.
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