CIA releases declassified documents on Robert F Kennedy assassination under Trump order
CIA Director John Ratcliffe released the documents in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump to declassify files on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. and RFK.
According to the CIA, the latest batch of documents complements the thousands of pages the agency provided to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as part of their public releases related to JFK earlier this year.
The most recent release shows for the first time that RFK, as a senator, shared his experiences traveling to the former Soviet Union with the CIA while reflecting his patriotic commitment to serving his country.
"Today's release delivers on President Trump's commitment to maximum transparency, enabling the CIA to shine light on information that serves the public interest," Ratcliffe said. "I am proud to share our work on this incredibly important topic with the American people."
Along with sharing information about RFK's Soviet Union experiences, the files also dive into the psychological assessments of Sirhan Sirhan, the man who shot and killed RFK in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968.
In a personality assessment memo on July 8, 1968, federal authorities declared that "under no circumstances would we have predicted that [Sirhan] was 'capable' of doing what he did."
In the same memo, the feds said the odds of Sirhan being successful were "tremendous."
"Obviously, we cannot see him as part of a conspiracy," the memo read. "He could be a tool of a conspiracy in the sense that the attempted assassin of Secretary of State [William] Seward and the assigned assassin of Vice President Andrew Johnson [George Atzerodt] were tools of the [John Wilkes] Booth conspiracy. It is very likely, however, that he could have effectively acted under precise instructions."
It goes on to say that most people of the type of attack Sirhan was accused of at the time attack their mother or their girlfriend.
"Occasionally they will lash out against an employer or colleagues (a case in point is the recent Pennsylvania case of the 'quiet' man who killed his car pool and then himself)," the memo read. "Sometimes they will pick public figures and make abortive attempts to get at them. Essentially, we see Sirhan as being more like the impulsive assassins of [former presidents James] Garfield and [William] McKinley than the calculating assassins of [Abraham] Lincoln and President Kennedy."
The file release is what the CIA said was a collaborative effort directed by Trump and led by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard with coordination from the CIA, Department of Justice, FBI and NARA.
"Today's release is another important step in fulfilling President Trump's commitment to maximum transparency. Thank you to those at the CIA, ODNI, and NARA who worked hard to locate, review, and digitize these documents, many of which have never been released publicly before," Gabbard said. "We will continue coordinating with our partners across the Intelligence Community to fulfill President Trump's promise of maximum transparency."
The documents are available to the public and can be viewed by visiting cia.gov and archives.gov/rfk.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a guest on Fox News' "The Story" on Thursday and told host Martha MacCallum that he did not know his father was reporting back to the CIA during his trip to the Soviet Union in 1955, when he was a Senate aide.
"My mother was on that trip," RFK Jr. said. "She joined him in St. Petersburg, and she actually was working for the CIA at that time, and she was wearing a carnation in her lapel that was attached to a little bubble where she could take pictures."
RFK Jr. continued by saying the Soviets had brought artwork back to now-St. Petersburg after the defeat of Nazi Germany. The Germans, he explained, had confiscated the artwork from some of the Jewish families and that the CIA was interested in that.
"I don't think it was anything of grave national security interest, but it was, you know, it's an interesting fact that I didn't know about my dad," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Libyan Express
02-07-2025
- Libyan Express
Trump says Israel agrees to 60-day Gaza ceasefire
Copy Link US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Israel has agreed to the terms of a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the deal or face harsher conditions. The announcement comes just days before Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, as the US intensifies efforts to end the war and secure a broader agreement involving hostages and humanitarian access. 'My representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza,' Trump wrote on social media. 'Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalise the 60-day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the war.' He added that Qatar and Egypt would deliver the final proposal to Hamas. 'I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,' Trump warned. Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer held talks in Washington with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff. The discussions reportedly covered the ceasefire, regional tensions, and Iran. The ceasefire push comes amid mounting humanitarian alarm. Over 150 aid organisations, including Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International, have demanded an end to a US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution mechanism in Gaza, citing chaos and deadly incidents. Witnesses said at least 10 Palestinians were killed while seeking food. At the same time, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 37 people in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital. 'Tents, tents—they are hitting with two missiles?' cried Um Seif Abu Leda, whose son was among the dead. Adding to the turmoil, projectiles were fired at Israel from both Gaza and Yemen. Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, warned Yemen could face serious consequences after a missile was launched by Houthi rebels, marking the first such attack since a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. The Houthis vowed continued strikes until the Gaza siege is lifted. Netanyahu, addressing his Cabinet, did not elaborate on his Washington visit, but confirmed trade and Iran would be on the agenda. Trump is also reported to have helped mediate a recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
Libyan Express
28-06-2025
- Libyan Express
Iran sends warning to Trump and Israel over threats and insults
BY Libyan Express Jun 28, 2025 - 05:11 Araghchi warns Trump and Israel: Iran will not tolerate threats Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has claimed that Israel has 'no refuge but the United States' in the face of Iranian military power, and warned that Tehran would not tolerate insults or threats directed at its leadership or sovereignty. In a statement posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Araghchi praised what he described as the resilience and national dignity of the Iranian people, drawing a comparison to the craftsmanship of Persian carpets. 'The complexity and resilience of the Iranian people are clearly reflected in our exquisite carpets—woven with infinite patience and countless hours of dedicated work,' he wrote. 'But in terms of national principles, we are a straightforward and rational people: we know what we possess, we value our independence, and we will not allow anyone to determine our fate.' Turning to former US President Donald Trump, Araghchi urged him to adopt a more respectful tone if any future agreement with Iran is to be taken seriously. 'If Mr Trump is genuinely seeking an agreement, he must abandon the disrespectful and unacceptable language he has used towards the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and avoid offending the millions of his loyal followers.' He continued by asserting that Israel had sought protection from Washington in the face of Iranian missile capabilities. 'The great Iranian people have shown the world that the Zionist regime had no other means of survival than seeking shelter with its 'spoilt father'—the United States. Iran does not tolerate threats or insults. And if delusions escalate into greater mistakes, we will not hesitate to reveal our real capabilities. At that moment, all illusions about Iran's strength will vanish.' Araghchi concluded with a message emphasising reciprocal diplomacy: 'Goodwill is met with goodwill, and respect is met with respect.' His remarks come amid ongoing regional tensions and renewed scrutiny over Iran's relationship with both Israel and the United States. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
Libyan Express
26-06-2025
- Libyan Express
US airstrikes set back Iran's nuclear program but don't destroy it
US airstrikes only set back Iran's nuclear program by months, initial US intelligence assessment finds A preliminary assessment by US intelligence indicates that recent American airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities have not eliminated the country's nuclear capabilities but have set the program back by a few months. This development coincides with a fragile ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel. On Tuesday, both Iran and Israel indicated a pause in their air conflict following Trump's public reprimand over violations of a ceasefire he announced earlier that day. After 12 days of hostilities — including US attacks on Iran's uranium-enrichment sites — both sides claimed success. Over the weekend, President Trump stated that the deployment of large bunker-buster bombs had 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear program. However, according to sources familiar with intelligence reports, initial assessments do not fully support this claim. These sources said Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles remain and much of the nuclear infrastructure, which is largely underground, was only partially damaged, resulting in a delay estimated at one or two months. Iran maintains its nuclear work is for civilian energy purposes. The White House dismissed the intelligence report as inaccurate. The Defense Intelligence Agency's evaluation reportedly concluded that while entrances to two nuclear sites were sealed, the underground facilities were not destroyed. Some centrifuges reportedly remained intact following the strikes. In remarks to the United Nations Security Council, the US administration described the strikes as having 'degraded' Iran's nuclear program, falling short of earlier claims of total destruction. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks removed the immediate threat of nuclear weapons and vowed to prevent Iran from rebuilding its program. 'We have removed two existential threats: nuclear annihilation and the threat of ballistic missiles,' Netanyahu said. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the ceasefire as a 'great victory' and reportedly told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that Tehran was ready to address differences with the US. The conflict began on June 13 with an Israeli surprise airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities and senior military commanders. Iran responded with missile attacks on Israeli military sites and cities. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. By Tuesday evening, Israel lifted military restrictions, and Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv reopened. Iranian airspace was also reported to be reopening. The White House said Trump personally facilitated the ceasefire agreement with Netanyahu and maintained communication with Iranian officials. Both Iran and Israel took several hours to acknowledge the ceasefire and accused each other of violations. Trump criticised both but particularly Israel, urging it to 'calm down now.' Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated Israel would respect the ceasefire unless Iran violated it. Iranian officials made a similar commitment contingent on Israel's compliance. The sustainability of the ceasefire remains uncertain given longstanding tensions. Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir described the pause as the end of a 'significant chapter' but said operations against Iranian-backed groups in Gaza would continue. Iran's military warned Israel and the US to learn from the 'crushing blows' it delivered during the conflict. Iranian authorities reported 610 deaths and over 4,700 injuries from Israeli strikes. Iranian missile attacks resulted in 28 deaths in Israel, marking the first significant breach of Israeli air defences. Following the ceasefire, global oil prices fell and stock markets rose, reflecting reduced concerns over supply disruptions from the Gulf region. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump expressed frustration with both sides over ceasefire violations, particularly criticising Israel. Netanyahu's office confirmed an Israeli strike near Tehran in response to Iranian missile launches shortly after the ceasefire was due to start. Iran denied missile launches and accused Israel of continuing attacks beyond the ceasefire deadline. For many Iranians, the end of hostilities brought relief. 'The war is over. It never should have started,' said Reza Sharifi, returning to Tehran.
