President Donald Trump’s administration announced on Monday that it was releasing more than 230,000 pages of files pertaining to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prior to the release of the files by the Trump administration, the documents had been sealed since 1977.
In a Monday press release, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed that her office was releasing over 230,000 pages of files on King Jr.’s assassination in response to the president’s executive order directing his administration to release classified documents regarding the assassinations of King, former President John F. Kennedy, and former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.
“The American people have waited nearly 60 years to see the full scope of the federal government’s investigation into Dr. King’s assassination,” Gabbard stated. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are ensuring that no stone is left unturned in our mission to deliver complete transparency on this pivotal and tragic event in our nation’s history. I extend my deepest appreciation to the King family for their support.”
Monday’s press release explained that the newly-released documents include information on the investigation the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted into King Jr.’s assassination, such as internal FBI memos regarding the case, potential leads, and information on a former cellmate of James Earl Ray, who initially pleaded guilty to assassinating King following the civil rights activist’s death in 1968 before renouncing his guilty plea.
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The press release noted that other documents released by the Trump administration include evidence of Ray fleeing the country following King Jr.’s assassination and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) records on the “international hunt for the prime suspect in the assassination.”
“The American people deserve answers decades after the horrific assassination of one of our nation’s great leaders,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a Justice Department press release. “The Department of Justice is proud to partner with Director Gabbard and the ODNI at President Trump’s direction for this latest disclosure.”
Dr. Alveda King, the niece of the former civil rights activist, said she was grateful that the Trump administration followed through with its commitment to provide transparency by releasing the documents regarding King Jr.’s assassination.
“My uncle lived boldly in pursuit of truth and justice, and his enduring legacy of faith continues to inspire Americans to this day,” Alveda King stated. “While we continue to mourn his death, the declassification and release of these documents are a historic step towards the truth that the American people deserve.”
