WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the CIA unveiled 1,450 more pages of documents concerning Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination, including 54 documents that were previously kept secret.
These documents might provide new insights into why Sirhan Sirhan, who was born in Palestine and became a Jordanian citizen, assassinated Kennedy in the June 5, 1968 shooting. The release includes a psychological profile of Sirhan along with his personal notes.
One of the handwritten notes includes the lines “Kennedy must fall” and “tonight, tonight.”
Additional documents will offer insights into a trip RFK made with former Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas to the Soviet Union in 1955. During this trip, Kennedy, who later became a U.S. attorney general and senator, acted as a voluntary informant for the Agency.
A CIA official said that the documents about Kennedy’s journey “exemplifies the depth of his patriotism and commitment to serving his country,” knowing that “the USSR was our top adversary at the time.”
The information on Sirhan covers his family history and international ties but notes that the gunman was never connected to any terrorist groups, the official added.
“Today’s release delivers on President Trump’s commitment to maximum transparency, enabling the CIA to shine light on information that serves the public interest,” said CIA Director John Ratcliffe in a statement.
“I am proud to share our work on this incredibly important topic with the American people.”
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard previously released more than 10,000 pages about the senator’s murder at a Los Angeles hotel following his victory in the 1968 California Democratic presidential primary.
“I commend President Trump for his courage and his commitment to transparency,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. added in his own statement. “I’m grateful also to Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe for their dogged efforts to root out and declassify these documents.”
