Latest news with #COINTELPRO
The Hill
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
MLK assassination files released: What to know
The Trump administration on Monday released a trove of previously classified documents related to the 1968 assassination of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) in Memphis, Tenn. James Earl Ray, who died in prison in 1998, admitted to the murder after he was captured in London, but conspiracy theories have swirled about the motivation behind the attack and who may have been involved beyond Ray, including the federal government. Why now? Trump signed an executive order in January to release of the documents related to MLK's assassination. While campaigning for a second non-consecutive term last year, the president had promised to release FBI records related to the deaths of high-profile figures in the 1960s, including President John F. Kennedy Jr. (JFK) and former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK). The documents related to the Kennedy brothers have also been released, prompting increased speculation about the high-profile assassinations. The president also signaled he would release the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but the administration said earlier this month that it had no additional information to provide and has sought a court release of grand jury testimony. What are the documents? The previously classified records related to MLK's assassination while he was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis include details about the FBI's probe into the civil rights leader before his death five decades ago. King was in Tennessee to support sanitation workers who were on strike over low pay, and he had delivered his 'I've been to the mountaintop' speech there the night before. Then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover deemed King a radical and targeted him for investigation with the agency's Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO). Records have shown that the FBI had wiretaps on King's phone lines, surveilled his hotel rooms and used informants to build information against him while he led the 1960s Civil Rights effort against discrimination. What do they reveal? More than 230,000 pages of documents related to King's assassination were published in Monday's release. According to the National Archives, more files will be released as information is reviewed. The documents unveiled, so far, focus primarily on the FBI's investigation into King's death, such as agency memos and interviews with people who knew Ray, but they also provide insight into the FBI's investigation into King's anti-poverty and anti-war campaign before his death. Historians who have studied King told The New York Times that the documents provide little new information, though. How does the King family feel about this? His family has long questioned the conventional narrative that Ray, who pleaded guilty to the assassination and died in 1998 a Nashville, Tenn., prison at age 70, acted alone in the shooting death of King. A jury in a 1999 civil trial found that a man, who claimed to have known about a plot to kill King, and unnamed others — including government agencies — had participated in a conspiracy to carry out the killing. However, the Justice Department reopened the case in the 1990s and said it 'found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King.' King's two living children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice A. King, released a joint statement on Monday saying that they disagreed with the Trump administration's release of the documents on their father without appropriate context. 'We recognize that the release of documents concerning the assassination of our father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has long been a subject of interest, captivating public curiosity for decades,' the duo wrote. 'We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief.' They urged people to view the files 'within their full historical context.' 'During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),' the Kings continued. 'The intent of the government's COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle, and destroy Dr. King's reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement.' 'These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth – undermining the dignity and freedoms of private citizens who fought for justice, designed to neutralize those who dared to challenge the status quo,' they added. The King family won a wrongful death lawsuit against Shelby County, Tenn., in 1999. 'The jury unanimously concluded that our father was the victim of a conspiracy … including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme,' the King children said in their statement. 'As we review these newly released files, we will assess whether they offer additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted.' The two also noted their support for 'transparency and historical accountability,' but warned against efforts to smear their father's legacy that may come from the release. 'Those who promote the fruit of the FBI's surveillance will unknowingly align themselves with an ongoing campaign to degrade our father and the Civil Rights Movement,' they wrote. 'Let us move forward together, inspired by our father's enduring vision of the Beloved Community – a world made possible when we choose to center love in all that we do.' They added, 'By embracing compassion, mutual respect, and justice, we can transform his dream into our shared reality.'
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
King's family releases statement after Trump declassifies secret FBI files, reaffirms Ray was not the killer
The Trump administration has released nearly 200,000 pages of previously sealed FBI surveillance records concerning civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These documents had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977 and were collected during the FBI's intensive monitoring of King. The files are now accessible to the public through the National Archives and Records Administration , which will offer new insight into the investigation, surveillance, and federal actions surrounding the civil rights leader's death. The release is part of Executive Order 14176, signed by President Donald Trump. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Public Policy Degree Design Thinking Technology Leadership Artificial Intelligence Data Science Project Management Product Management Data Analytics Finance Management MBA Others others Healthcare Operations Management PGDM Data Science MCA healthcare CXO Digital Marketing Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was placed under heavy FBI surveillance as part of the agency's COINTELPRO operation, to monitor and undermine individuals seen as threats to national security. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: Bathroom Remodeling Trends in 2025 May Surprise You Bathroom Remodeling | Search Ads Search Now FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover viewed King as a dangerous figure, accusing him of having alleged ties to communists and fearing his growing influence in the Civil Rights Movement . The agency's campaign went beyond surveillance; it included smear tactics, blackmail attempts, and efforts to discredit King publicly and privately, including a notorious anonymous letter urging him to take his own life. Live Events "The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal government's investigation into Dr King's assassination," Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard said in a statement. What happened to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the iconic voice behind "I have a dream", was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was in the city to support striking sanitation workers. Shortly after the killing, James Earl Ray, a fugitive with a criminal record, was arrested in London and extradited to the United States. He pleaded guilty to King's murder in 1969 and was sentenced to 99 years in prison, avoiding a jury trial. However, Ray later recanted his confession, claiming he was coerced and had been set up as part of a broader conspiracy. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s family publicly stated that they did not believe James Earl Ray was the actual assassin. They believed he was a scapegoat in a larger conspiracy. Dr. King's surviving children, Martin Luther King III and Dr. Bernice A. King, were notified in advance of the document release to assemble research teams to review the contents before the public could access them. Statement from his family The Martin Luther King Jr. Center released a joint statement on Monday, July 21, from Martin Luther King III and Dr. Bernice A. King, responding to the public release of long-sealed government documents related to their father's assassination. 'We recognize that the release of documents concerning the assassination of our father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has long been a subject of interest, captivating public curiosity for decades,' they said. As children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, they said that this renewed attention comes with deep emotional weight. 'His tragic death has been an intensely personal grief – a devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met – an absence our family has endured for over 57 years. We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief.' The family also requested that the documents must not be viewed in isolation but in the "full historical context" of their father's life and legacy. 'During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),' they said. They alleged that this campaign (COINTELPRO) was not simply an effort to gather intelligence but to destroy a man and a movement. 'The intent of the government's COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. King's reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement . These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth, undermining the dignity and freedoms of private citizens who fought for justice, designed to neutralize those who dared to challenge the status quo.' Ray was not the shooter Referencing a key moment in their family's pursuit of truth, the statement recalled the 1999 civil trial in Shelby County, Tennessee. 'Our family filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit... The jury unanimously concluded that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as part of a wider scheme. The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr. Ray was set up to take the blame.' They affirmed that this verdict reflects what they have long believed. 'As we review these newly released files, we will assess whether they offer additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted.' While supporting truth and transparency, they raised caution about how the documents may be used. 'We object to any attacks on our father's legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods. We strongly condemn any attempts to misuse these documents in ways intended to undermine our father's legacy and the significant achievements of the movement,' they said. 'Those who promote the fruit of the FBI's surveillance will unknowingly align themselves with an ongoing campaign to degrade our father and the Civil Rights Movement.' Dr. King's mission is the way Instead of fueling old injustices, the family urged the public to uphold and continue Dr. King's mission. 'We encourage the public to continue the work that our father began – building equity, justice, and peace for all,' the statement reads. 'Now more than ever, we must honor his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realization of his dream – a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality.' The message concluded with a call to action grounded in Dr. King's enduring vision of a just and loving world. 'Let us move forward together, inspired by our father's enduring vision of the Beloved Community – a world made possible when we choose to center love in all that we do. By embracing compassion, mutual respect, and justice, we can transform his dream into our shared reality.' What the files contain The files include: Records from the FBI's COINTELPRO operations, revealing extensive surveillance and psychological harassment of King. Internal FBI memos show attempts to discredit him, including a 1964 letter urging him to take his own life. CIA reports tracking James Earl Ray's movements across Portugal, England, and Canada during his flight after the assassination. Materials from the House Select Committee on Assassinations, which had earlier suggested a possible conspiracy behind King's murder. Details on Ray's extradition from the UK and intelligence-sharing with international agencies, including Canadian police.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MLK Jr.'s family issues a statement regarding the released documents by Trump administration
The administration of Donald Trump has released details of the FBI investigation into Martin Luther King Jr.'s killing, as part of a push to declassify records related to infamous assassinations. The King family maintains that James Earl Ray was not the shooter and will examine the newly released files for further insights. A 1999 wrongful death lawsuit brought by the King family concluded that King was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies, and that Ray was set up. The Justice Department has stated that Jowers' allegations of a conspiracy are 'unworthy of belief' and likely fabricated. The King family also emphasized that the civil rights leader was subjected to a 'disinformation and surveillance campaign' orchestrated by the FBI's COINTELPRO program.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Would Releasing the Martin Luther King Files Help Curb the Surveillance State?
The federal government is seeking to unseal long-classified FBI surveillance records on Martin Luther King Jr. nearly two years before their court-ordered release date (January 2027) and 56 years after his assassination. The King family and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which King founded, have objected to the early release, arguing the files contain illegally obtained wiretaps and personal information that should remain private. However, the compelling public interest could outweigh the family's understandable desire to shield King's memory from renewed smear campaigns. The FBI waged a psychological war against King through its COINTELPRO program, a counterintelligence operation targeting civil rights leaders suspected of communist ties. With backing from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and approval from Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, agents illegally wiretapped King's home, offices, and hotel rooms. What started as a probe into alleged communist ties morphed into a protracted campaign to destroy King's reputation, utilizing fabricated stories, false documents, and anonymous threats. The recordings and accounts of King's private life, deemed likely illegal and unethical by the House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1979, were sealed for 50 years by a federal court in 1977, following a lawsuit by King's associate and the SCLC. A January executive order issued by President Donald Trump directs the Justice Department to seek an early release of the records, although officials claim their focus is only on documents related to King's assassination. On June 4, Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia agreed to review the files before determining what will be released. "It's not going to happen overnight," Leon said. "The court is going to move very carefully." King's youngest daughter, Bernice, and son, Martin Luther King III, have asked the court not to release the documents, arguing that it would infringe on the family's privacy. The Kings also cite the botched release of John F. Kennedy files that revealed Social Security numbers, and point to the FBI's attempts to blackmail and smear King as evidence that a premature, unvetted disclosure could be harmful. Matthew Guariglia, senior policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, tells Reason that the issue of privacy can be easily rectified. "The FBI or whoever is releasing these files has an opportunity to both preserve the privacy of the surveillance target and also reveal any historically significant facts about FBI methodology just by redacting a lot of the intentionally embarrassing surveillance information," he said. Leon will be tasked with balancing the file's significance in American history against the privacy concerns of those who were illegally spied on. As Guariglia notes, the situation requires a nuanced approach: "Important historical documents should not be withheld and classified forever. That being said, I think motivation here is important." While the King family's concerns are valid, the primary issue remains that the government collected such material in the first place. The Kings' objections are "shortsighted," Patrick Eddington, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, tells Reason. "In an age where government surveillance and political repression has become all too commonplace, I think the release of these records showing the FBI's prurient surveillance of King and attempts to blackmail him into abandoning the civil rights cause would be a powerful reminder to Americans about why the FBI's domestic surveillance activities need to be sharply curtailed." The FBI's surveillance of Americans continues to this day, largely with the approval of policymakers. Despite multiple instances of illegal FBI surveillance, including monitoring protesters after the 2020 George Floyd riots and the January 6 Capitol riot, Congress extended Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 2024. This post-9/11 authority allows warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad and the "incidental" collection of Americans' data. While the explicit targeting of Americans is prohibited, the 2024 renewal endorses nearly all warrantless searches of Section 702 data, inevitably capturing Americans' private conversations in the process. Unsealing the FBI's surveillance records on Dr. King would not violate his legacy—it would reaffirm the values he died fighting for: truth, accountability, and freedom from state repression. The release would be especially worthwhile if it leads to meaningful curbs on federal surveillance powers. The post Would Releasing the Martin Luther King Files Help Curb the Surveillance State? appeared first on
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Habeas corpus is line between democracy and tyranny. Trump is blurring that line
If you think you see a train coming down the tracks, it's best to assume it's a train. And right now, President Donald Trump and his inner circle are charging full speed toward stripping Americans their most basic constitutional rights – with working people, immigrants and communities of color tied to the rails. Multiple media outlets recently reported that President Donald Trump's Senior Advisor Stephen Miller has suggested the administration is 'actively looking at' suspending habeas corpus – a constitutional right dating back to the Magna Carta of 1215, designed to prevent unlawful detention. Miller's statement is not a political trial balloon. It is a direct threat to every community and person that has historically borne the brunt of unchecked state power; and now many millions more are at risk. Habeas Corpus: Can Trump administration suspend right to challenge detention? Habeas corpus – the right to appear before a judge when detained – was embedded in the U.S. Constitution in Article I, Section 9. It may only be suspended in times of 'rebellion or invasion.' We are not at war. This is not a rebellion. But Trump wants to give his agents the unchecked ability to round up whomever they want, whenever they want, without charges or court review. This isn't immigration policy. It's authoritarianism. The graves of young Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice can be found all over the globe. By rolling back our rights, we dishonor the men and women who have died for the freedom of, ultimately, all of us. Historically, suspensions of habeas corpus have come during national emergencies: Lincoln invoked it during the Civil War. Roosevelt used it to justify Japanese internment camps during World War II. Both decisions were later criticized for violating fundamental rights. But Trump's proposal comes without crisis or justification – only a desire to wield power without oversight. Let's be honest: we know who suffers when due process is stripped away. It's not the wealthy or well-connected. It's people in neighborhoods like the ones I grew up in – among Arab, Black, poor white and Hispanic families that have always been overpoliced, surveilled and scapegoated. In Detroit, we've lived through COINTELPRO, mass incarceration, and decades of militarized policing. Our communities don't need a history lesson – we've seen what happens when the government throws out the rulebook. More opinion: I joked about getting deported. In Trump's America, it's not funny. Conservative icon and retired federal judge J. Michael Luttig recently called Trump's casual disregard for the Constitution 'perhaps the most important words ever spoken by a president.' Trump said he doesn't know if he's obligated to uphold the Constitution. That's not a gaffe. That's a confession. Luttig warns this is 'constitutional denialism' – the belief that the Constitution doesn't apply if the president doesn't like how the courts interpret it. Just recently, Trump's Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, while testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was asked by Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, to define habeas corpus, saying – incorrectly – "habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country." Under Trump's watch, ICE has detained people with legal status for nothing more than criticizing presidential policies and proposals. We've seen legal residents arrested at courthouses, workplaces, and even outside schools. Ask yourself: what happens if there's no court to turn to? No right to challenge your detention? That's not democracy. That's dictatorship. As a civil rights attorney, I've defended the wrongfully arrested, the unlawfully detained, and the politically targeted. I've seen how the courts can be both weapon and shield. And I know that the only thing more dangerous than unchecked police power is unchecked police power with no court review at all. More: Lawyer for U-M protester detained at airport after spring break trip with family I believe in the power of the Constitution – but only if we recognize and use that power. We cannot sit idly by while a president openly plots to suspend core legal protections. We cannot wait until our neighbors are gone and our rights are stripped before we raise our voices. The train is coming, and it won't stop on its own. Detroit has always been a city of resistance – against racism, against exploitation, against economic injustice and against authoritarianism. We know how to fight injustice because we've been doing it for generations. From labor strikes to civil rights marches to courtroom battles for justice, our strength is in our refusal to be silent. So no, suspending habeas corpus is not just some obscure legal issue. It's the line between democracy and tyranny. Between protest and prison. Between freedom and fear. And if they come for one of us without due process, they can come for all of us. We must defend habeas corpus – not just as lawyers, but as citizens, as neighbors and as people who know that our rights mean nothing if they don't protect the most vulnerable among us. Because if we don't fight back now, history will ask why we let it happen again. Amir Makled is managing partner of the Dearborn-based Hall Makled Law Firm. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Habeas corpus is what stands between democracy and tyranny | Opinion
