President Donald Trump authorized the release of over 230,000 pages of previously classified documents tied to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The files, many of which had remained sealed for over five decades, were unveiled in what the administration describes as an unprecedented move toward “full historical transparency.”
This dramatic release was the result of Executive Order 14176, signed by President Trump in January 2025, which mandated the declassification of all federal documents related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. King.
For years, these files were the subject of intense speculation, conspiracy theories, and legal advocacy. With their publication, the U.S. government has opened a new chapter in understanding the civil rights movement, Cold War intelligence practices, and the controversial role of federal agencies during one of the most turbulent periods in American history.
The declassified material includes FBI memos, surveillance logs, CIA dispatches, DOJ legal opinions, and National Archives correspondence. A significant portion of the files focus on the FBI’s surveillance and psychological campaigns against Dr. King, known as part of the now-infamous COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program). These include wiretap transcripts, intelligence briefings, and internal memos documenting a wide-reaching attempt to monitor, discredit, and undermine King’s leadership.
Other documents track James Earl Ray, the man convicted of killing Dr. King in Memphis on April 4, 1968. These include previously unreleased details about his international flight, passport records, and prison interviews that raise questions about how Ray was able to evade capture for two months and whether he had support.
Some of the most attention-grabbing files involve rumors of a broader conspiracy theories long dismissed or sealed by official commissions. While the new documents do not confirm any second gunman or covert plot, they include credible leads and interviews that were never previously public, which has reignited public interest.
Not all responses were celebratory. The King family released a cautious joint statement. Martin Luther King III urged the public to approach the files “with wisdom and empathy,” emphasizing that historical documents should be used to build justice, not deepen division. His sister, Dr. Bernice King, echoed those sentiments, calling on media outlets and citizens alike to “tread carefully with the pain of history.”
Not everyone views the release as a noble gesture. Reverend Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders labeled the move a “political stunt,” timed to distract from ongoing controversies, including the recent fallout over Epstein case files and growing legal pressure on members of Trump’s cabinet.
Some progressive critics argue that the files, though valuable, were released without a proper framework for context or justice, potentially enabling selective interpretation or weaponization in media narratives.
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The release of the Martin Luther King Jr. files marks a powerful moment in America’s long reckoning with its past. Whether viewed as a bold step toward accountability or a political chess move, the fact remains: for the first time, millions of Americans now have access to decades of secrets about one of the nation’s greatest heroes.
It is up to historians, educators, and citizens to ensure that this truth isn’t just uncovered but understood.
