logo
Trump Administration Releases FBI Records on MLK Jr.

Trump Administration Releases FBI Records on MLK Jr.

The Trump Administration on Monday released a trove of FBI documents related to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., ending a court-ordered seal that had kept the documents out of public view since they were collected by the FBI in 1977.
The release includes more than 230,000 pages of records detailing the FBI's investigation into King's assassination, including internal bureau memos, foreign intelligence cables, and previously unpublished material related to James Earl Ray, the man who pleaded guilty to King's assassination before recanting.
It was not immediately clear if the documents would reveal any new information about King's murder or his life.
King's family released a statement on Monday urging the public to view the files 'within their full historical context,' noting the personal nature of the matter. They also reiterated their belief that Ray was not solely responsible for King's death.
'As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal grief—a devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met -- an absence our family has endured for over 57 years,' they wrote in a statement reviewed by The Associated Press. 'We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief.'
In a statement, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard described the release as a 'historic step' that fulfills President Donald Trump's Executive Order issued in January that directed agencies to declassify and publish assassination records related to King, President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
'The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal government's investigation into Dr. King's assassination,' Gabbard said. '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.'
The files were originally not scheduled for public release until 2027, 50 years after they were put under court-ordered seal.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while visiting Memphis. In the lead-up to his death, he had increasingly turned his focus toward economic justice and opposition to the Vietnam War, drawing heightened scrutiny from political leaders and law enforcement. Then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover authorized an aggressive campaign of wiretaps, hotel room bugs, and disinformation intended to discredit King and undermine the civil rights movement.
Though Ray pleaded guilty to the assassination, he later tried to withdraw the plea and insisted he was not involved. Members of King's family have long expressed doubts about Ray's role, with Coretta Scott King and others publicly calling for a broader investigation into possible government involvement. A Justice Department inquiry concluded in 2000 that there was no evidence to support those assertions.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957, opposed the release, arguing that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures.
The timing of the MLK files' release has raised questions, as the Trump Administration is currently facing pressure over its refusal to release additional files related to the federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in custody in 2019. Trump last week ordered the release of limited grand jury testimony but declined to unseal the full case file, prompting frustration among his supporters.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Schiff calls for Bondi, Patel to testify over Trump, Epstein files report
Schiff calls for Bondi, Patel to testify over Trump, Epstein files report

The Hill

time9 minutes ago

  • The Hill

Schiff calls for Bondi, Patel to testify over Trump, Epstein files report

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is calling for Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to testify before Congress after a bombshell report from the Wall Street Journal alleged the two warned President Trump that he was named in disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein's files. 'Now we know in May, Pam Bondi informed Trump that his name was in those files. Bondi knew. Patel knew,' Schiff said Wednesday in a video posted to social platform X. 'But in July, as recently as just a week or two ago, Trump denied being informed that his name was in those files, even though we have now learned Bondi told him,' he continued. 'We need to bring Bondi and Patel into the Judiciary Committee to testify about this now.' Officials told the Journal the information was disclosed as part of a routine White House briefing for the president. They noted that during the meeting, Trump was informed that no additional Epstein files would be released due to the heinous nature of the material. Last week, Trump sued the Journal for publishing a story detailing a birthday letter reportedly bearing his signature on a page with the silhouette of a naked woman. The outlet said he sent the correspondence to Epstein in 2003. 'A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' the final line reads, the Journal reported. The president has attempted to distance himself from Epstein's dealings, denying visiting the financier's office and the friendship outlined in his letter to the wealthy businessman. 'It's not my language. It's not my words,' Trump told the Journal. Some of his MAGA supporters and Republicans have lamented over the scandal, criticizing the leader for not making good on his campaign promise to release the Epstein files in full. Many Republicans in Congress are backing a measure that supports the delivery of more documents — though the House adjourned for August recess before taking up votes, angering some of their Senate GOP counterparts. 'People are frustrated. We want to know if there's more information,' Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) told NewsNation. Schiff, and other Democrats, echoed their concerns and called for Trump administration officials to step forward with more transparency around their findings and disclosures. 'Trump told the press he was not informed that his name was in the Epstein files. Now we learn that this was a lie. He was told by Bondi, his former criminal defense lawyer and now the AG,' Schiff wrote in a post on X. 'Time to end the Trump/Epstein cover-up. Release the files,' he added. Controversy around the convicted sex offender's case was sparked once again last week after the FBI and Justice Department issued a joint memo concluding Epstein did not keep a 'client list' and that his 2019 death was ruled a suicide. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's charged co-conspirator in the case, is expected to meet with DOJ officials in the coming days. The House is also looking into issuing a subpoena to Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her involvement in the alleged sex trafficking operation of underage girls.

Trump will visit Federal Reserve in escalation of campaign to pressure Powell to cut interest rates
Trump will visit Federal Reserve in escalation of campaign to pressure Powell to cut interest rates

San Francisco Chronicle​

time9 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Trump will visit Federal Reserve in escalation of campaign to pressure Powell to cut interest rates

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to step foot in the Federal Reserve on Thursday as his allies scrutinize its expensive building renovations, a highly personal and confrontational escalation of his campaign to pressure the central bank to slash interest rates. Trump administration officials have used concerns about the building overhaul to cast doubt on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's decision making. They were scheduled to inspect the site on Thursday, and the White House announced late Wednesday that the Republican president would also be visiting. The visit reflects Trump's disregard for the traditional independence of the Fed, which plays a foundational role in the American economy by setting monetary policy that is supposed to be free of political influence. While previous presidents have criticized the Fed's decisions, Trump's sustained campaign is an unusual and, his critics say, dangerous departure from the norm. He has called on Powell to resign, insulted him repeatedly and suggested that he could be fired. Ousting Powell could be illegal, and it would send shockwaves through global markets, potentially having the opposite effect that Trump wants as he pushes for lowering borrowing costs. Trump has criticized Powell for months because the chair has kept the short-term interest rate the Fed controls at 4.3% this year, after cutting it three times last year. Powell says the Fed wants to see how the economy responds to Trump's sweeping tariffs on imports, which Powell says could push up inflation. Powell's caution has infuriated Trump, who has demanded the Fed cut borrowing costs to spur the economy and reduce the interest rates the federal government pays on its debt. The Fed has been renovating its Washington headquarters and a neighboring building. With some of the construction occurring underground and as building materials have soared in price after inflation spiked in 2021 and 2022, the estimated cost has ballooned from $1.9 billion to about $2.5 billion. When asked last week if the costly rebuilding could be grounds to fire Powell, Trump said, 'I think it sort of is.' 'When you spend $2.5 billion on, really, a renovation," Trump said, 'I think it's really disgraceful.' ___

President Donald Trump will visit Federal Reserve in escalation of campaign to pressure Jerome Powell to cut interest rates
President Donald Trump will visit Federal Reserve in escalation of campaign to pressure Jerome Powell to cut interest rates

Chicago Tribune

time9 minutes ago

  • Chicago Tribune

President Donald Trump will visit Federal Reserve in escalation of campaign to pressure Jerome Powell to cut interest rates

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to step foot in the Federal Reserve on Thursday as his allies scrutinize its expensive building renovations, a highly personal and confrontational escalation of his campaign to pressure the central bank to slash interest rates. Trump administration officials have used concerns about the building overhaul to cast doubt on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's decision making. They were scheduled to inspect the site on Thursday, and the White House announced late Wednesday that the Republican president would also be visiting. The visit reflects Trump's disregard for the traditional independence of the Fed, which plays a foundational role in the American economy by setting monetary policy that is supposed to be free of political influence. While previous presidents have criticized the Fed's decisions, Trump's sustained campaign is an unusual and, his critics say, dangerous departure from the norm. He has called on Powell to resign, insulted him repeatedly and suggested that he could be fired. Ousting Powell could be illegal, and it would send shockwaves through global markets, potentially having the opposite effect that Trump wants as he pushes for lowering borrowing costs. Trump has criticized Powell for months because the chair has kept the short-term interest rate the Fed controls at 4.3% this year, after cutting it three times last year. Powell says the Fed wants to see how the economy responds to Trump's sweeping tariffs on imports, which Powell says could push up inflation. Powell's caution has infuriated Trump, who has demanded the Fed cut borrowing costs to spur the economy and reduce the interest rates the federal government pays on its debt. The Fed has been renovating its Washington headquarters and a neighboring building. With some of the construction occurring underground and as building materials have soared in price after inflation spiked in 2021 and 2022, the estimated cost has ballooned from $1.9 billion to about $2.5 billion. When asked last week if the costly rebuilding could be grounds to fire Powell, Trump said, 'I think it sort of is.' 'When you spend $2.5 billion on, really, a renovation,' Trump said, 'I think it's really disgraceful.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store