In a sweeping move aimed at shedding light on one of the darkest chapters in American history, the Trump administration on Monday released more than 6,000 newly digitized intelligence documents related to the 1968 assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The release, part of a broader transparency initiative spearheaded by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, marks a historic moment nearly six decades after King's murder in Memphis, Tennessee. Gabbard announced the declassification of a total of nearly a quarter-million pages, much of which chronicles the FBI’s investigation into King’s assassination and the movements of James Earl Ray, the man convicted in the killing.
"The American people have waited nearly 60 years to see the full scope of the federal government’s investigation into Dr. King’s assassination," said Gabbard in a press conference. "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."
Family Given Advance Access, But Cautions Public
Despite the administration’s praise of the King family’s cooperation, King’s children made clear that their approval was not without reservations. Martin Luther King III and Bernice A. King released a statement asking the public to treat the files with care and context, especially given the documented history of FBI efforts to discredit their father.
“During our father’s lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the FBI,” the siblings stated. “We strongly condemn any attempts to misuse these documents in ways intended to undermine our father’s legacy and the significant achievements of the movement.”
The family was granted a two-week advance review of the files prior to their public release. Their statement emphasized a broader concern: that long-standing attempts to smear King through FBI surveillance efforts, including allegations of personal misconduct, not be allowed to distort public memory of his work and sacrifice.
What's Inside the Files?
The newly released documents detail the FBI’s investigation into King’s assassination, including internal memos, witness interviews, and new materials such as an audio file of law enforcement interviewing Jerry Ray, the brother of the convicted assassin. Also included are accounts from a former cellmate of James Earl Ray, who allegedly discussed an assassination plot with him before King was killed.
Ray, an escaped convict and known segregationist, shot King on April 4, 1968, while he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. Though he initially confessed to the crime, Ray later recanted and insisted he was set up by a mysterious man he referred to as “Raoul.” He died in prison in 1998.
In 1999, the King family filed a civil suit alleging a broader government conspiracy in the killing. The jury in that case found Loyd Jowers — who owned a bar beneath the room where Ray stayed — liable for involvement in the assassination. However, a subsequent federal investigation concluded there was no credible evidence supporting a conspiracy.
Broader Context: JFK, RFK, and Epstein Files
The declassification follows through on an executive order signed by President Trump in January, directing the full release of all remaining records tied not only to King's assassination but also to those of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The timing comes amid increasing public pressure on the administration to release other sensitive files, including documents related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his connections to powerful political and business figures.
Reactions Across the Spectrum
Reactions to the release were mixed but largely welcomed as a step toward historical reckoning.
Alveda King, Dr. King’s niece and a longtime conservative commentator, praised the Trump administration’s efforts. “My uncle lived boldly in pursuit of truth and justice, and his enduring legacy of faith continues to inspire Americans to this day,” she said in a statement. “While we continue to mourn his death, the declassification and release of these documents are a historic step toward the truth that the American people deserve.”
Historians and civil rights scholars have long called for a full accounting of the FBI’s actions in the 1960s. Many note that while Ray was convicted, significant unanswered questions remain — including the extent of government surveillance, possible involvement of informants, and the systemic efforts to weaken King’s influence as he began to speak more forcefully against poverty and the Vietnam War.
A Moment of Reckoning
As the documents become publicly accessible, scholars and journalists are expected to begin parsing them for new insights into the federal response to King’s activism, the role of domestic intelligence during the Civil Rights era, and the lingering mysteries surrounding his death.
Still, the King family’s plea for measured engagement serves as a reminder that, for many Americans, this is not just a matter of history — it’s personal.
“We ask that any engagement with these files be done with empathy, context, and the understanding that the pain of this loss is still felt deeply,” the King children wrote. “Our father was more than a target of FBI surveillance or the victim of a bullet. He was a father, a husband, a pastor, and a servant of justice.”
