On January 23, President Trump signed an executive order to declassify all documents related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert F. Kennedy. While previous administrations have taken action toward declassification, every step has come with a lot of redaction and very little urgency. However, the recent order states that “It is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay.” So when will these files be made public, and what can we expect to learn?

The Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence will provide the President with a comprehensive plan for the release of these documents by February 7 for JFK and by March 7 for MLK and RFK. From there, clarity will be given as to exactly when documents will be made available.

While some level of mystery surrounds each of these historic murders, the JFK files are expected to garner the most attention. A 1992 act of Congress required all files pertaining to the JFK assassination be released by 2017. However, both President Trump, in his first term, and President Biden delayed the release of a portion of documents, and had others heavily redacted, for the sake of national intelligence and security. All-in-all it is believed that 99 percent of the files have been released. They can be examined in the National Archives.

Could that remaining one percent reveal the long-awaited “smoking gun” and answer all questions related to Lee Harvey Oswald, a potential second shooter, Cuba, and the CIA? Unlikely. Much of what remains is believed to contain sensitive personal details, or perhaps reveal embarrassing details about the intelligence agencies’ knowledge of Oswald but failure to stop him.

While declassification may not unveil a government conspiracy, it is also unlikely to quell the most popular alternative theories about what happened on November 11, 1963. Perhaps only a time machine could do that.

Why the MLK and RFK files could be the bigger story

As for the MLK files, Dr. King’s family has partially been the cause of the delay, hoping that the government might allow them to see the files first and then release them at a later date. Even as one of the most influential figures in the country, Dr. King remained the subject of a significant FBI spy campaign and was not well protected. Dr. King’s family members have raised questions over the years about the convicted killer, James Earl Ray, and the involvement of the intelligence community. At the very least, the MLK files are expected to reveal further incompetence on the part of the FBI.

Though lesser known to the public, the RFK files may be the most revealing. While all of the state and FBI documents have been declassified, the CIA has yet to release any documentation related to the murder, which took place in June of 1968, just two months after the murder of King. The former Senator’s son, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has publicly questioned the official narrative of his father’s death. Much like the other two tragic events, there remains a cloud of mystery around the involvement and knowledge of key intelligence agencies.

With figures like RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard at the forefront of his campaign, and potentially his administration, President Trump has made government transparency an important aspect of his second White House journey. In the home stretch of the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump spoke with Joe Rogan about the JFK files and explained that, in his first term, Mike Pompeo had discouraged him from releasing everything. Pompeo was the Director of the CIA and later became the Secretary of State.

Why transparency is important

Americans should value government transparency highly. While declassifying these documents represents a step forward, considering the size and scope of the federal government, there remains a long way to go. Simultaneously, the list of foreign governments that are completely averse to transparency is long. An increase in transparency is generally met with an increase in public trust.

As Christ-followers, transparency and honesty are critical. Not only should we desire to see such characteristics from our leaders and governing bodies, but they should be the marks of our daily faith walk. Transparency does not necessitate that everyone knows everything, but it elevates truth while eliminating distrust and confusion. Proverbs 28:13 states, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Confession, which can be a form of transparency, is also an act of humility. In that posture of humility, we should desire for the Lord to know us fully, refining us to be more like him (Psalm 139:23-24).

Now, we must live out the high calling of being an honest representative of Christ in every relationship, role, and opportunity. Transparency about your life’s challenges, your difficult past, or your beliefs might be a source of freedom for you and a catalyst for someone else to seek Jesus!

Denison Forum