The FBI has uncovered approximately 2,400 records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy that were never provided to a board overseeing the declassification of the assassination files.
Axios reported that the recent discovery, prompted by an executive order from President Trump, might challenge longstanding narratives and theories surrounding one of America's most significant historical events.
These documents, summing up to 14,000 pages, were found during a comprehensive review mandated by the executive order issued on January 23.
This directive demanded the release of all documents related to JFK's assassination, a topic of persistent public intrigue and skepticism over the transparency of its historical account.
Despite previous administrations' efforts, including direct orders from both Trump during his first term and President Biden, full compliance with the 1992 JFK Records Act had not been achieved.
President Trump, in his 2024 campaign, expressed regret over not releasing all related documents and promised not only to disclose these but also additional records on the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
The newly identified documents had previously been withheld from the JFK Assassination Records Review Board, established by the JFK Records Act to oversee the disclosure of assassination records, and were also not submitted to the National Archives as required by law.
As such, their contents remain highly confidential and are among the closely held secrets of the FBI. The directive noted that all these files should have been publicly disclosed by 2017.
Jefferson Morley, the vice president of the Mary Ferrell Foundation, emphasized the significance of this find, stating, "This is huge. It shows the FBI is taking this seriously."
Morley further remarked on the FBI's change in approach: "The FBI is finally saying, 'Let's respond to the president's order,' instead of keeping the secrecy going." These comments reflect the ongoing frustration among researchers and conspiracy theorists who believe that the full story behind JFK's assassination has yet to be revealed.
President Trump's administration underscored the urgency of revealing these documents, proclaiming in a White House fact sheet, "PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ENDING THE ENDLESS DELAYS." This forthrightness reflects Trump's commitment to resolving longstanding public skepticism concerning the assassination details.
The undisclosed records have fueled theories that question whether Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone or was part of a broader conspiracy.
With the plan to release these records by March 9, as outlined by the recent executive order, there looms a mix of anticipation and skepticism within the public and among Kennedy assassination scholars.
RFK Jr., nominated by Trump as Secretary of Health and Human Services and a staunch advocate for transparency, has supported the notion of broader conspiracies involving the assassinations, pointing towards the need for full disclosure to provide clarity and possibly reshape historical understanding.
In response to the ongoing delays and secrecy, remarks from within the White House reveal palpable frustration. "When POTUS hears about this stonewalling, he's gonna hit the roof," disclosed one White House official, while another bluntly criticized, "This is total Deep State bulls**t." The intense reactions from these officials highlight the contentious nature of the subject within government circles.
A Trump adviser hinted at a dramatic move concerning the release of these documents: "Don't be surprised if all these records just suddenly wind up online." This suggests a possible expedited disclosure that could bypass traditional bureaucratic processes, aiming for a more immediate public release.