Latest news with #WarrenCommission
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
JFK hearing revives cover-up talk; Geraldo, Ross Coulthart respond
(NewsNation) — A House panel hearing last week featured testimony calling into question the official explanation that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Geraldo Rivera and Ross Coulthart, two journalists who appear regularly on NewsNation, offer their take on whether there is cause for concern or whether skeptics are going down the same dead end. Wednesday's hearing of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets was the second devoted to the opaqueness surrounding Kennedy's death. Declassified: The JFK Assassination At the meeting, witnesses to the assassination or its immediate aftermath expressed doubts about the Warren Commission's conclusion, and lawmakers heard allegations about tainted medical files, fake X-rays and lost bullet fragments. Media veteran Rivera, a NewsNation correspondent-at-large, said it's simple enough for him: Oswald, an ex-Marine sharpshooter with an ax to grind, acted alone. 'Lee Harvey Oswald was a low-down, dirty communist,' he said. 'The only thing in his life he ever did well was the assassination. He was a marksman. He was a sharpshooter.' Rivera insists that if there were a viable alternative explanation, it would have surfaced long ago. 'If it had been something other than the Warren Commission finding — that Lee Harvey Oswald and Lee Harvey Oswald alone killed John Kennedy — we would know it by now,' he said. 'I am unconvinced by all this recent testimony. And it always seems to me that the congresspeople involved are always the most eager to get on TV, and they make news by outrageous or outlandish or unprovable claims.' Witnesses accuse CIA of obstructing JFK investigations Coulthart, host of the 'Reality Check' podcast, said the case is worth re-examining. He said he was intrigued by last week's testimony, including remarks from a surgeon at Parkland Memorial Hospital who received the mortally wounded Kennedy. Coulthart noted the physician said the president's wounds appeared as if they came from the front of Kennedy, not from behind, where Oswald was believed to be in the Texas Book Depository. 'I just think the media is locked into a cycle of denial, that it's such an incomprehensible thing to contemplate the possibility that a president was killed in a coup d'état in 1963, and that's what we're talking about,' Coulthart told 'NewsNation Prime' on Saturday. Coulthart said the CIA may still be withholding certain files in the Kennedy assassination. Earlier this year, the Trump administration ordered the release of thousands of documents on Kennedy's death, but many observers said there was little new information included and no smoking gun that would solidify a different premise. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
First black member of Secret Service finally testifies to JFK committee, details Chicago assassination plot
The man John F. Kennedy called 'the Jackie Robinson' of the Secret Service finally got to testify before a Congressional committee Tuesday — alleging fellow agents were often drunk on the job and there was a so-called 'Chicago plot' to kill the president before his 1963 assassination in Dallas. His head bowed, Abraham Bolden, 90, spoke with difficulty into a microphone when he addressed the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by Zoom from his home in Chicago. The committee is probing the assassination of the president. But the audio cut off immediately as Bolden began to speak, effectively muting his testimony on the live stream. Advertisement 5 Abraham Bolden speaks into a microphone during his ZOOM testimony during a Congressional committee investigating the assassination of President Kennedy. 'On June 6, 1961, I walked into history,' said Bolden, according to a transcript obtained by The Post. 'I was assigned to the White House detail in Washington, DC to assist in protecting the life of the president. And I never met a more human and fair-minded person than President Kennedy.' The Trump administration released tens of thousands of previously classified documents with respect to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, his younger brother Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Advertisement In the past, Bolden claimed government agents discredited him by arresting him on trumped up charges of bribery in order to prevent him from speaking to the federal Warren Commission, headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren to investigate the shooting in Dallas on November 22, 1963. In addition to Bolden, the committee heard from Don Curtis, a physician at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas who was on the team that tried to save the president's life. In his opening statement he said that the Warren Commission did not interview him or the other doctors, and that the bullet wounds he observed on Kennedy were not consistent with the version of a lone gunman that the Warren Commission reported. Four other witnesses also gave testimony during the second hearing of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, chaired by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), which begins Tuesday. Advertisement 5 Abraham Bolden has long claimed that the Secret Service agents who were assigned to protect John Kennedy were often drunk and ignored threats to the president's life. TNS Douglas Horne, a former Assassination Records Review staff member, said medical records and autopsy photos are missing as are other key documents. Bolden, a former highway patrolman and Chicago-based Secret Service agent, was the first black member of the Secret Service, personally hired by Kennedy to be part of his presidential detail. He met the former president during the former president's stop in Chicago in 1961 while he was guarding a basement restroom at the McCormick Place banquet hall. Advertisement 5 John F. Kennedy was shot while he made a campaign stop in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Bettmann Archive 'He was serious about giving everyone equal opportunity,' Bolden said of Kennedy in a 2008 TV interview. 'He never walked by me once that he didn't strike up a conversation.' In his 2008 book, 'The Echo from Dealey Plaza: The True Story of the First African American on the White House Secret Service Detail and His Quest for Justice After the Assassination of JFK,' Bolden wrote about the racism he encountered from other agents on the president's team, claiming they were often drunk on the job. In his testimony Tuesday, he spoke about overhearing an angry 1963 meeting between Kennedy and his vice president Lyndon Johnson in the Oval Office in which Johnson accused Kennedy of dropping him from his run for president the following year, warning the president to ''better stop f—king with me.'' 'He was redder than a sack of beets,' Bolden said, referring to Johnson when he stormed out of the Oval Office. He also outlined a report he heard at a staff meeting about threats to kill Kennedy with 'a high-powered rifle' at an Army-Air Force footbal game in Chicago on November 2, nearly three weeks before he was killed. 'Information that I had revealed was that some Cuban exiles were trying to assassinate the president when he came to Chicago,' Bolden said, adding that he knew from one of the agency's weekly meetings that there had been threats against the president at the campaign stop in Dallas where was shot dead. 5 Experts addressed a Congressional committee Tuesday about the assassination of President Kennedy. Bettmann Archive Advertisement 'That information came to me every Wednesday morning when we got a rundown in what was happening in all the other districts,' said Bolden in the interview. In 1964, Bolden was fired from the Secret Service after being charged with trying to sell government secrets for a $50,000 bribe. He denied the allegations, saying that he was framed for trying to expose corruption within the agency. Although his first trial ended in a hung jury, Bolden was convicted at his second trial and sentenced to 15 years, even after some witnesses had said they had been pressured into lying to prosecutors. At the time, the father of three gave piano recitals to raise money for his legal defense 5 Abraham Bolden arriving for his trial in Chicago in 1964. He claims that government agents tried to keep him from testifying about the Secret Service by convicting him on trumped-up charges. TNS Advertisement Bolden served 39 months in federal prison, with a two-and-a-half year probation. During his time in prison, Mark Lane, an attorney who wrote a bombshell book in 1966 –'Rush to Judgment' — that alleged that Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, could not have acted alone, came to visit him in prison, he said. Bolden said that while he was in prison, he was drugged by guards and transferred to the 'psychiatry division' so that he wouldn't talk. 'They tried to fill me with drugs,' he said. He was pardoned by President Biden in 2022. 'Very often, as you people know, justice takes a long time,' he told the committee, adding that he was grateful to Biden for the pardon. 'Carry on, my brothers and sisters. Carry on this investigation. I truly thank you for giving me a chance to tell my story day because not too many years from now, the only thing in my pockets will be dirt. But the truth cannot die.'
Time Magazine
09-05-2025
- Time Magazine
The 10 Most Infamous Crimes of All Time According to AI
This article is published by a partner of TIME. Throughout history, certain crimes have stood out for their sheer brutality, audacity, or lasting impact, serving as chilling reminders of the darkest sides of human behavior. These infamous acts, often shocking in both scope and detail, have devastated communities, instilled widespread fear, and permanently scarred societies. From horrifying serial killings to audacious heists and high-profile assassinations, these crimes continue to fascinate and horrify, highlighting the depths of cruelty and chaos that can emerge from human nature. Many of these crimes remain unresolved, leaving behind unanswered questions and a haunting legacy of mystery and fear. Even those where the perpetrators were identified and punished still evoke a sense of dread, as their details reveal a horrifying capacity for premeditation, violence, and disregard for human life. These stories are not just tales of individuals' actions but profound societal failures, showing how systems of safety, justice, and order can be shaken to their core. This article, written using research assistance from ChatGPT, explores the top 10 most infamous crimes of all time, spanning different eras and locations. Each case is a grim testament to humanity's ability to inflict pain and suffering, with consequences that echo far beyond their immediate victims. These crimes have left deep scars, with consequences that continue to shape society and history in profound ways. 1. Jack the Ripper Murders In 1888, an unidentified serial killer known as "Jack the Ripper" terrorized London's Whitechapel district, murdering at least five women. The gruesome nature of the crimes and the killer's elusiveness have made this one of the most enduring mysteries in criminal history. Location: Whitechapel, London, England Victims: Five confirmed victims, known as the 'canonical five' Modus Operandi: Brutal mutilation of victims Suspects: Numerous, but none conclusively identified Impact: Spawned countless theories, books, and films Legacy: One of the most studied and debated unsolved crimes in history 2. The Assassination of John F. Kennedy On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. This tragedy shocked the world and remains one of the most scrutinized events in modern history. Date: November 22, 1963 Location: Dallas, Texas Perpetrator: Officially Lee Harvey Oswald, though conspiracy theories abound Impact: Altered the political and cultural landscape of the United States Investigations: Led to the Warren Commission and numerous conspiracy theories Legacy: A pivotal moment in U.S. history with ongoing debates about the true circumstances 3. The Zodiac Killer The Zodiac Killer operated in Northern California during the late 1960s and early 1970s, taunting law enforcement with cryptic messages and ciphers. The identity of the killer remains unknown, and the case is one of the most famous unsolved crimes. 4. The Great Train Robbery In 1963, a gang of 15 men executed a daring heist, stealing £2.6 million from a Royal Mail train in England. Known as the Great Train Robbery, this crime captivated the public for its meticulous planning and dramatic aftermath. 5. The O.J. Simpson Trial In 1994, NFL star O.J. Simpson was charged with the tragic murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The televised trial became a media spectacle, often referred to as "The Trial of the Century." Date of Crime: June 12, 1994 Location: Los Angeles, California Outcome: Simpson was acquitted in criminal court but found liable in a civil trial Impact: Sparked national debates about race, celebrity, and the justice system Legacy: Continues to be a case study in media influence and legal strategy Cultural Significance: Inspired documentaries, books, and TV adaptations 6. The Heist of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum In 1990, two men disguised as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole 13 pieces of art worth over $500 million. The crime remains unsolved, and none of the artworks have been recovered. Date: March 18, 1990 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Stolen Items: 13 pieces of art, including works by Vermeer and Rembrandt Value: Over $500 million Impact: Highlighted significant gaps in museum security Legacy: One of the largest unsolved art heists in history 7. The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie in 1914 is widely regarded as the event that triggered World War I. The assassination was carried out by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist. Date: Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia Perpetrator: Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand organization Impact: Directly led to the outbreak of World War I Legacy: A pivotal moment in global history, reshaping the 20th century Significance: Symbol of political unrest and the consequences of assassination 8. The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping In 1932, the son of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from the family's home in New Jersey. The crime, dubbed "The Crime of the Century," ended tragically when the baby's body was discovered weeks later. Date: March 1, 1932 Location: Hopewell, New Jersey Victim: Charles Lindbergh Jr., 20 months old (and his family forever) Outcome: Bruno Richard Hauptmann was convicted and executed Impact: Led to the Federal Kidnapping Act, empowering the FBI Legacy: A tragic case that captivated the nation 9. The Boston Marathon Bombing On April 15, 2013, two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring hundreds. The attack was carried out by brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Date: April 15, 2013 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Casualties: 3 dead, over 260 injured Perpetrators: Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Impact: Strengthened security measures at public events worldwide Legacy: Inspired resilience and solidarity through the "Boston Strong" movement 10. The Jeffrey Dahmer Murders Jeffrey Dahmer, one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. His crimes included dismemberment and cannibalism, shocking the world with their brutality. Active Years: 1978–1991 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Victims: 17 confirmed Capture: Arrested in 1991 after a potential victim escaped Legacy: Sparked debates about mental health and law enforcement oversight Cultural Impact: Subject of numerous books, documentaries, and films Conclusion on Top 10 Infamous Crimes The top 10 infamous crimes of all time reveal both the depths of human depravity and the perennial fascination with understanding the motives and circumstances behind these events. From the enduring mystery of Jack the Ripper to the cultural ripple effects of high-profile cases like the O.J. Simpson trial, these crimes continue to resonate, not just for their notoriety but for the societal conversations they have sparked. These infamous incidents highlight humanity's need to confront its darkest moments, offering lessons on vigilance, empathy, and the pursuit of truth. They stand as stark reminders of the consequences of unchecked ambition, greed, or ideology, encouraging ongoing reflection on the broader implications of justice, mental health issues and accountability. Related Articles: About the Authors: Richard D. Harroch is a Senior Advisor to CEOs, management teams, and Boards of Directors. He is an expert on M&A, venture capital, startups, and business contracts. He was the Managing Director and Global Head of M&A at VantagePoint Capital Partners, a venture capital fund in the San Francisco area. His focus is on internet, digital media, AI and technology companies. He was the founder of several Internet companies. His articles have appeared online in Forbes, Fortune, MSN, Yahoo, Fox Business and Richard is the author of several books on startups and entrepreneurship as well as the co-author of Poker for Dummies and a Wall Street Journal-bestselling book on small business. He is the co-author of a 1,500-page book published by Bloomberg on mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies. He was also a corporate and M&A partner at the international law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. He has been involved in over 200 M&A transactions and 250 startup financings. He can be reached through LinkedIn. Dominique Harroch is the Chief of Staff at She has acted as a Chief of Staff or Operations Leader for multiple companies where she leveraged her extensive experience in operations management, strategic planning, and team leadership to drive organizational success. With a background that spans over two decades in operations leadership, event planning at her own start-up and marketing at various financial and retail companies. Dominique is known for her ability to optimize processes, manage complex projects and lead high-performing teams. She holds a BA in English and Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. She can be reached via LinkedIn.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'JFK' director Oliver Stone calls for investigation into presidential assassination
Oliver Stone, the Oscar-winning director whose film JFK portrayed the President John F. Kennedy's assassination as the work of government conspiracy yesterday called for a new congressional investigation into his killing. Stone, 78, testified at a hearing of the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets following last month's release of thousands of pages of government documents related to the assassination. Related Neil Young says he may be barred from returning to US over Donald Trump criticism Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone is to testify on latest JFK assassination files JFK was nominated for eight Oscars, winning two, and grossed over $200 million (€185 million) at the box office. Stone described his film as a 'counter-myth' to the 'fictional myth' of the Warren Commission, established to investigate Kennedy's assassination. At the time of its release in 1991, JFK was criticised for its historical accuracy. Stone told the committee that he believes decades of delays in releasing unredacted records had prevented 'clarity' about who killed Kennedy. Stone also said a new investigation 'outside all political considerations' should begin 'at the scene of the crime' and re-examine all of the evidence from the day of the assassination. Experts have concluded that there's strong evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald, a 24-year-old former Marine, acted alone in killing Kennedy. 'Can we return to a world where we can trust our government to level with us, the people for which this government exists?' Stone said. 'This is our democracy. This is our presidency. It belongs to us.' Whether Oswald acted alone in fatally shooting Kennedy on a motorcade route in Dallas on 22 November 1963 was the task force's first line of questioning. Scholars say the files that President Donald Trump ordered to be released showed nothing undercutting the conclusion that a lone gunman killed Kennedy. Many documents were previously released but contained newly removed redactions, including Social Security numbers, angering people whose personal information was disclosed. The task force's chair, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, said she thinks the federal government under previous administrations had engaged in 'stonewalling.' The task force also invited Jefferson Morley and James DiEugenio, who have written books arguing for conspiracies behind the assassination. Morley is editor of the JFK Facts blog and vice president of the Mary Ferrell Foundation, a repository for files related to the assassination. The last formal congressional investigation of Kennedy's assassination ended in 1978, when a House committee issued a report concluding that the Soviet Union, Cuba, organized crime, the CIA and the FBI weren't involved, but Kennedy 'probably was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.' In 1976, a Senate committee said it had not uncovered enough evidence 'to justify a conclusion that there was a conspiracy.' The Warren Commission, appointed by Kennedy's successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson, concluded that Oswald fired on Kennedy's motorcade from a sniper's perch on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Police arrested Oswald within 90 minutes, and two days later, Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner, shot Oswald during a jail transfer broadcast on live television.
Euronews
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
'JFK' director Oliver Stone calls for investigation into presidential assassination
ADVERTISEMENT Oliver Stone, the Oscar-winning director whose film JFK portrayed the President John F. Kennedy's assassination as the work of government conspiracy yesterday called for a new congressional investigation into his killing. Stone, 78, testified at a hearing of the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets following last month's release of thousands of pages of government documents related to the assassination. Related Neil Young says he may be barred from returning to US over Donald Trump criticism Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone is to testify on latest JFK assassination files JFK was nominated for eight Oscars, winning two, and grossed over $200 million (€185 million) at the box office. Stone described his film as a 'counter-myth' to the 'fictional myth' of the Warren Commission, established to investigate Kennedy's assassination. At the time of its release in 1991, JFK was criticised for its historical accuracy. Stone told the committee that he believes decades of delays in releasing unredacted records had prevented 'clarity' about who killed Kennedy. Stone also said a new investigation 'outside all political considerations' should begin 'at the scene of the crime' and re-examine all of the evidence from the day of the assassination. Experts have concluded that there's strong evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald, a 24-year-old former Marine, acted alone in killing Kennedy. 'Can we return to a world where we can trust our government to level with us, the people for which this government exists?' Stone said. 'This is our democracy. This is our presidency. It belongs to us.' Oliver Stone listens during a hearing of the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo Whether Oswald acted alone in fatally shooting Kennedy on a motorcade route in Dallas on 22 November 1963 was the task force's first line of questioning. Scholars say the files that President Donald Trump ordered to be released showed nothing undercutting the conclusion that a lone gunman killed Kennedy. Many documents were previously released but contained newly removed redactions, including Social Security numbers, angering people whose personal information was disclosed. The task force's chair, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, said she thinks the federal government under previous administrations had engaged in 'stonewalling.' The task force also invited Jefferson Morley and James DiEugenio, who have written books arguing for conspiracies behind the assassination. Morley is editor of the JFK Facts blog and vice president of the Mary Ferrell Foundation, a repository for files related to the assassination. resident John F. Kennedy slumps down in the back seat of the Presidential limousine as it speeds along Elm Street toward the Stemmons Freeway overpass after being fatally shot AP Photo The last formal congressional investigation of Kennedy's assassination ended in 1978, when a House committee issued a report concluding that the Soviet Union, Cuba, organized crime, the CIA and the FBI weren't involved, but Kennedy 'probably was assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.' In 1976, a Senate committee said it had not uncovered enough evidence 'to justify a conclusion that there was a conspiracy.' The Warren Commission, appointed by Kennedy's successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson, concluded that Oswald fired on Kennedy's motorcade from a sniper's perch on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Police arrested Oswald within 90 minutes, and two days later, Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner, shot Oswald during a jail transfer broadcast on live television.
