Image Credits: AP Photo
After President Kennedy’s assassination, conspiracy theories ran wild. The theories included Lee Harvey Oswald and the possibility that the government, CIA, and FBI conspired to have the President killed. After Oliver Stone’s 1991 film, JFK, Congress enacted The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. This directed the National Archives and Records Association to collect and maintain records of the 1963 assassination.
The act stated that remaining JFK files must be released to the public within 25 years of the act’s enactment. The clock is about to run out. President Trump only has a few days to announce his intention to keep the files classified. He may only do so if he believes national security will be compromised should the files be released, consistent with Section 6.
The remaining 10% of classified files on JFK’s assassination are due to be released on October 26th in accordance with the Congressional action. Over 30,000 files have been released, some with redactions; the remaining 3,000 files contain FBI and CIA information about JFK’s November 1963 assassination. The October 26th release will include all 30,000 previously released files in their complete form. It will also include 3,000 never before released documents.
On October 21, President Trump released the following tweet:
Subject to the receipt of further information, I will be allowing, as President, the long blocked and classified JFK FILES to be opened.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2017
Since his tweet, Republican members of Congress have come out in support of the release. Many say there is no reason to keep the files classified and it is time for the government to be more transparent with the public. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, urged President Trump to release the files earlier this month in a series of tweets:
25 yrs ago Cong said all gov records abt JFK assassination shld b released this month unless Pres blocks No reason 2 keep hidden anymore 1/3
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 4, 2017
2/3 2day I introd resolution urging Pres Trump 2 allow full release of docs Time 2 let American ppl + historians draw own conclusions
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 4, 2017
3/3 a real problem in gov’t is over classification Transparency in gov’t brings acctblty Resolutions like this help
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 4, 2017
Senator Grassley also proposed legislation earlier this month that called for the complete release of the JFK files.
According to Roger Stone, a White House source revealed CIA Director Mike Pompeo has urged the president not to release the files. However, the host of Stone Cold Truth openly admitted to hoping the files “shed further light” on LBJ’s role in Kennedy’s death saying:
I am hopeful additional classified JFK documents released by @realDonaldTrump will shed further light at the role of LBJ In JFK’s murder
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) October 22, 2017