Synopsis
On January 24, President Donald Trump signed an executive order for the declassification of assassination records related to John F Kennedy, Robert F Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing the necessity for the American public to know the truth after decades of secrecy.Key Takeaways
- Trump's executive order aims for transparency.
- Declassification of JFK, RFK, and MLK records.
- 15-day plan for document release.
- Public interest highlighted in disclosures.
- Trump aims to fulfill campaign promises.
Washington, Jan 24 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has enacted an executive order mandating the declassification of documents related to the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, Senator Robert F Kennedy, and Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. He stated that it is time for the American populace to uncover the truth.
The White House noted, "This initiative aims at providing Americans with the truth after six decades of secrecy."
According to the executive order, the policy asserts that, over 50 years after these tragic events, both the victims' families and the American public are entitled to the truth, the statement added.
The order instructs key administration officials to devise a plan for the declassification of these documents within 15 days.
John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963. His brother, Robert F Kennedy, was killed while campaigning for the presidency in California in 1968, just two months following the murder of Martin Luther King Jr, America’s iconic civil rights advocate, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Specifically, the directive requires the Director of National Intelligence and other relevant officials to submit a plan within 15 days for the complete release of all records regarding the John F Kennedy assassination and to review records related to the Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. assassinations, presenting a plan for their full release within 45 days.
Notably, during his first term, Trump urged agencies to enhance transparency concerning the John F Kennedy assassination.
The President John F Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 mandated the release of all records associated with the assassination after 25 years, unless a presidential certification indicated that continued withholding was necessary due to identifiable harm to military defense, intelligence operations, law enforcement, or foreign relations, and that such harm outweighed public interest in disclosure.
In October 2017 and April 2018, President Trump directed agencies to reassess redactions and unveil any information that no longer required withholding. President Biden postponed disclosures in 2021, 2022, and 2023, the statement added.
Trump emphasized that the ongoing secrecy surrounding the John F Kennedy records is "not in the public interest and is long overdue," adding that disclosing the Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. records serves the public interest.
Importantly, it was a campaign promise by President Trump to unveil assassination records to provide the American people with the truth.
Trump has reaffirmed his commitment on various occasions to release the JFK files, specifically stating in June 2024 that he would do so "early on".
"When I return to the White House, I will declassify and unseal all documents related to the JFK assassination. It’s been 60 years; it’s time for the American people to know the TRUTH!" Trump declared.
