What MLK Jr. files have been released, and what have we learned?
Share this @internewscast.com


() The Trump administration recently released more than 230,000 files related to the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

It comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order back in January directing full transparency on the assassinations of King, President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

What files have been released, and what was learned?

The files that have been released and digitized detail the FBI’s investigation of King’s assassination, as well as documents relating to the international manhunt for James Earl Ray, the man who was convicted of killing King on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Another part of the files includes information about Ray’s former cellmate, who claimed that Ray had discussed an assassination plot.

It also shows the FBI’s surveillance of King before his death, as well as disinformation operations against him.

What are people looking for in the files?

A conspiracy theory surrounding King’s death is related to Ray’s claims that he did not shoot King and was forced to confess by authorities. Some also believe the government and possibly the Mafia were involved in the assassination and that Ray was set up to take the fall.

In 1979, a House committee determined that there was a likelihood Ray acted for monetary gain and that there was likely a conspiracy behind the shooting. The conspiracy likely stemmed from white supremacist groups, rather than the government, the panel said.

King’s two living children, Martin III and Bernice, released a statement in which they called their father’s case a “captivating public curiosity for decades” but asked for “empathy, restraint, and respect for our family’s continuing grief.”

They also emphasized the personal nature of the matter, urging that “these files must be viewed within their full historical context.”

The King Center, a nonprofit founded by Coretta Scott-King in 1968 following King’s death, noted a 1999 wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee, where the jury concluded that Ray was not King’s shooter, and that King’s death was a conspiracy involving Memphis businessman Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme.

“Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs,” the family said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Understanding the ‘Tattoo Flu’: Causes and Effects Explained

(NEXSTAR) – If you’re planning to get some new ink, be prepared…

Lake Land College Partners with Deb’s Catering for Temporary Effingham Kitchen Lease

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — In a bid to assist a local business…

Breaking: Israel Recovers Remains of Hostage Killed at War’s Outset in Gaza

JERUSALEM – On Saturday, Israeli officials confirmed that the remains of a…

WJHL Football Retrospective: A Historical Journey Through the Years with Hurley, Grundy, and Twin Valley

SOUTHWEST, Va. (WJHL) — The 2025 football season signifies a major turning…

Heroic Rescue: Ohio School Van Blaze Leaves Passengers Stranded Inside

[Watch in the player above: What occurs during a 911 call?] PARMA,…

Hawkins County: Fatal Shooting Claims Man’s Life on Friday, Reports HCSO

HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Authorities in Hawkins County are delving into…

Overseas Base Workers Face Unpaid Stint Amid US Government Shutdown

MADRID – The record-breaking U.S. government shutdown is causing repercussions far beyond…

Moultrie County EMA Announces Upcoming ‘Active Threat’ Training Session for First Responders

MOULTRIE COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Residents of Moultrie County are being informed…

Unveiling the Race for a Share of $50 Billion in Rural Health Investments

States are in a race to secure their portion of a newly…

End of an Era: Why the Farmer’s Almanac is Closing After 208 Years of Legacy

(NewsNation) — The conclusion of a significant chapter is upon us. The…

US Government Shutdown Halts Pay for Overseas Base Workers: What You Need to Know

In the heart of Europe, far from the political corridors of Washington,…

Eastman Announces 7% Workforce Reduction Globally by End of Year

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Eastman has revealed plans to trim its global…