5 hours ago, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) announced the unveiling of approximately 230,000 pages of records, following a court order from 1977 that had restricted access. The release was met with mixed reactions from King’s family. His surviving children, Martin III and Bernice, expressed their discontent, cautioning against the potential misuse of the documents that could tarnish their father's legacy. They emphasized the continuous grief their family feels over King’s tragic death on April 4, 1968, when he was shot in Memphis at the young age of 39.
Both children were informed about the upcoming release and reminded the public to approach the documents thoughtfully and respectfully. Their statement mentioned the invasive disinformation campaigns King faced during his life, led by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, which stripped him of essential civil liberties. They also referenced a 1999 civil lawsuit that concluded there was a conspiracy behind King’s murder, rather than a solitary act by his convicted assassin, James Earl Ray.
Earlier this year, Trump had announced his decision to declassify files from various historical assassinations, including those of King and former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. In the release, the DNI noted that these documents had remained unused for decades in various federal repositories. The files feature internal FBI correspondence and unprecedented CIA records concerning the investigation into the assassination, coordinated with agencies including the FBI and the Justice Department.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi remarked that the American public has long deserved clarity about King’s assassination. However, some observers noted the timing of this release coincides with ongoing scrutiny about the Trump administration's transparency regarding other critical issues, such as the high-profile case of Jeffrey Epstein.
In a contrasting viewpoint, Alveda King, who refers to Martin Luther King Jr. as her uncle, expressed gratitude for the release, aligning herself with Trump’s commitment to transparency. She viewed the declassification as a necessary stride towards uncovering the truth surrounding her uncle’s assassination.
James Earl Ray, the man sentenced for King’s murder in 1969, later alleged that he had been framed, attempting to recant his plea multiple times until his death in 1998 at 70.
Both children were informed about the upcoming release and reminded the public to approach the documents thoughtfully and respectfully. Their statement mentioned the invasive disinformation campaigns King faced during his life, led by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, which stripped him of essential civil liberties. They also referenced a 1999 civil lawsuit that concluded there was a conspiracy behind King’s murder, rather than a solitary act by his convicted assassin, James Earl Ray.
Earlier this year, Trump had announced his decision to declassify files from various historical assassinations, including those of King and former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. In the release, the DNI noted that these documents had remained unused for decades in various federal repositories. The files feature internal FBI correspondence and unprecedented CIA records concerning the investigation into the assassination, coordinated with agencies including the FBI and the Justice Department.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi remarked that the American public has long deserved clarity about King’s assassination. However, some observers noted the timing of this release coincides with ongoing scrutiny about the Trump administration's transparency regarding other critical issues, such as the high-profile case of Jeffrey Epstein.
In a contrasting viewpoint, Alveda King, who refers to Martin Luther King Jr. as her uncle, expressed gratitude for the release, aligning herself with Trump’s commitment to transparency. She viewed the declassification as a necessary stride towards uncovering the truth surrounding her uncle’s assassination.
James Earl Ray, the man sentenced for King’s murder in 1969, later alleged that he had been framed, attempting to recant his plea multiple times until his death in 1998 at 70.
