Latest news with #ExecutiveOrder14176
The Herald Scotland
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump releases files related to MLK assassination: King family objects
King's family objected to the release, saying the Federal Bureau of Investigation's surveillance of the progressive leader was tainted by the agency's political bent at the time. "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 family said in a statement. But "the release of these files must be viewed 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." Hoover's goal, the family says, was to find dirt on MLK in order to discredit him and the civil rights movement. Documents related to the King assassination are the latest trove of materials to be made public through Executive Order 14176. The Jan. 23, 2025 order also called for the release of materials related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. Files related to the JFK assassination were released in March. The full findings of the government investigations into the three killings have been hidden for decades, sparking wide-ranging speculation and preventing a sense of closure for many Americans. All three men were national and international icons whose assassinations -- and the theories swirling around them -- became the stuff of books, movies, controversy, and the pages of history itself. Trump's move to declassify the materials related to MLK also comes amid a political firestorm in Washington over the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the former financier and convicted sex offender who died while awaiting trial in 2019.
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.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump releases files related to MLK assassination, despite King family opposition
The National Archives released over 240,000 pages of records in accordance with an executive order from January. The King family hopes people read the FBI files with a skeptical eye. President Donald Trump's administration on Monday released over 240,000 pages of records surrounding the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a move made despite objections from some of the civil rights icon's family. Over 240,000 pages of records have been made available on the website of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. The Washington, D.C.-based agency says the release is in response to an executive order from Trump's White House dating back to January. King's family objected to the release, saying the Federal Bureau of Investigation's surveillance of the progressive leader was tainted by the agency's political bent at the time. "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 family said in a statement. But "the release of these files must be viewed 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." Hoover's goal, the family says, was to find dirt on MLK in order to discredit him and the civil rights movement. Documents related to the King assassination are the latest trove of materials to be made public through Executive Order 14176. The Jan. 23, 2025 order also called for the release of materials related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. Files related to the JFK assassination were released in March. The full findings of the government investigations into the three killings have been hidden for decades, sparking wide-ranging speculation and preventing a sense of closure for many Americans. All three men were national and international icons whose assassinations — and the theories swirling around them — became the stuff of books, movies, controversy, and the pages of history itself. Trump's move to declassify the materials related to MLK also comes amid a political firestorm in Washington over the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the former financier and convicted sex offender who died while awaiting trial in 2019.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CIA Unveils 54 New Files On RFK Assassination
The Central Intelligence Agency has released a new batch of documents related to the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, claiming the move fulfills a directive from President Donald Trump for 'maximum transparency.' According to a June 12 press release from CIA Director John Ratcliffe, the agency declassified 54 documents—totaling more than 1,450 pages—that it says had not been made public before. The documents, now available on CIA's and the National Archives websites, reportedly include material describing Kennedy's contacts with the agency following his trip to the Soviet Union, as well as internal correspondence around the time of his assassination in Los Angeles. Ratcliffe framed the release as a major step in carrying out Trump's Executive Order 14176, which directed the intelligence community to release all remaining classified records tied to the deaths of both President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Ratcliffe said the CIA's actions 'shine light on information that serves the public interest.' Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who coordinated the inter-agency effort, called the declassification 'an important step' toward public accountability. She credited analysts at CIA, ODNI, and the National Archives for what she described as painstaking work to locate and digitize files that 'have never been released publicly before.' Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the late senator's son and current Secretary of Health and Human Services, applauded the release, calling it 'a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government.' He also praised Trump, Gabbard, and Ratcliffe for what he described as 'dogged efforts' to uncover the full story of his father's death. The documents represent a major tranche of RFK-related records released under the Trump-era transparency initiative. According to the press release, the total number of CIA documents on the subject is more than 200 and nearly 5,000 pages. The agency said additional releases may follow. The CIA presser did not elaborate on the specific contents of the newly released files or whether they contained any new revelations regarding Senator Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, supposedly by Sirhan Sirhan in 1968. This case has long generated speculation, including theories of a second shooter or intelligence involvement. Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant, has consistently claimed he has no memory of the event. The new documents are now available online at and
Express Tribune
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
JFK files released: Over 1,100 new documents shed light on assassination conspiracy theories
On March 18, 2025, the U.S. National Archives released 1,123 newly declassified records related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The release follows a directive from President Donald Trump under Executive Order 14176, aimed at achieving full transparency regarding the JFK Assassination Records Collection. These files, previously withheld for national security reasons, are now available online and in physical formats at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. The newly disclosed documents include FBI and CIA reports, intelligence memos, and witness statements, shedding fresh light on key aspects of the case. Some records provide further details on Lee Harvey Oswald's activities before and after the assassination, including his interactions with Soviet and Cuban officials just weeks prior to Kennedy's death. Other documents discuss CIA surveillance efforts and intelligence reports that have fueled speculation about potential involvement of foreign governments, organized crime, and even a second shooter. The release reignites longstanding debates surrounding Kennedy's assassination, with many researchers and historians examining whether these files alter the official narrative that Oswald acted alone. The information also revisits theories related to the possibility of a second gunman positioned on the grassy knoll, as suggested by previous investigations. While the documents may not provide a definitive answer to the case, they contribute to renewed public scrutiny of one of America's most controversial historical events. As analysts continue to comb through the files, the revelations could reshape public perception of the assassination and its impact on U.S. history. The records are accessible to the public via the National Archives website and will continue to be digitized for broader availability.
