RFK Assassination Documents Released By DNI
On April 18, 2025, the long-awaited release of over 50,000 previously unseen files related to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) was announced by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, fulfilling a promise made by President Donald Trump earlier in his term. The documents, totaling 10,000 pages, had been sitting in boxes at the National Archives for decades, never scanned or reviewed until now. This release follows Trump’s January 23 executive order to declassify records on the assassinations of RFK, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., with the RFK and MLK files slated for release plans by March 9. The disclosure has sparked widespread interest, particularly given RFK Jr.’s public skepticism about the official narrative that Sirhan Sirhan acted alone in his father’s 1968 killing at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
Initial reactions to the RFK files highlight both intrigue and skepticism. Posts on X reveal a mix of excitement and doubt, with some users pointing to early findings that challenge the official story, such as witness accounts of more shots than Sirhan could have fired and ballistics reports that contradict his position at the scene, suggesting the possibility of a second gunman. However, experts like Tim Tate, who has researched the assassination, caution that the files might not contain groundbreaking revelations, as many relevant records were already released to the California State Archives in the late 1980s. The lack of major new insights so far echoes the earlier release of JFK files in March, which also failed to deliver the “smoking gun” many hoped for, leaving some to wonder if these disclosures will truly reshape the understanding of RFK’s death or simply fuel more speculation.
The release has deeply personal implications for the Kennedy family, particularly RFK Jr., now Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary, who has long questioned Sirhan’s guilt and even met with him in prison in 2018. During a cabinet meeting, RFK Jr. expressed gratitude for the release, calling it a step toward transparency, while Trump noted the emotional weight of the moment for him. However, not all family members share RFK Jr.’s views—some siblings have strongly opposed Sirhan’s parole bids, insisting on his guilt. The files, which include government probes and State Department cables hinting at foreign discussions about RFK’s death, some predating the event, are still being analyzed. While they may not resolve the decades-long debate, they underscore the enduring public and familial quest for truth in one of America’s most haunting tragedies.
