Trump releases Martin Luther King Jr assassination files

The Trump administration has released over 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., despite concerns from King’s family.

The documents, published with minimal redactions for privacy reasons, include details about the FBI’s investigation, internal memos, and information about James Earl Ray’s alleged involvement.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that the release aims to deliver complete transparency on the event.

Though, King’s children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, expressed concerns that the records could be used to attack their father’s legacy.

They emphasized the importance of contextualizing the files within the broader history of civil rights and urged the public to approach the release with empathy and respect for their family’s grief.

King was assassinated in April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, and James Earl Ray was convicted of the murder. However, King’s children have expressed doubts about Ray’s sole responsibility. The FBI had conducted extensive surveillance on King, compiling a massive archive of files.

President Trump signed an executive order in January to declassify files related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, and King. The National Archives has also released records from John F. Kennedy’s assassination and files related to Robert F. Kennedy’s murder.

The release of these documents raises questions about government transparency, privacy, and the politics surrounding high-profile assassinations in American history. King’s family and civil rights leaders worry about potential misuse of the documents to undermine King’s legacy.

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