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Order Declassifying JFK and MLK Assassination Records [pdf]

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141–150 of 256 posts

Re: Order Declassifying JFK and MLK Assassination Records [pdf]

#141

It's just a symbolic order, won't actually lead to anything important being released because the agencies have the authority to reject whatever they want. Many of the files have already been destroyed anyways. See: Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) t…

In 1973 DCI Richard Helms ordered all files on Project MKUltra destroyed. We only have documents on it, because some files were stored in an office outside the main records office, which were found in a 1977 FOIA request.

Re: Order Declassifying JFK and MLK Assassination Records [pdf]

#142
post #2

Surely nobody sees this as a bad thing. It’s been a bit since these events happened.

As another commenter pointed out, this is just candy to act as a distraction. Trump (and Musk) want people talking about something relatively unimportant like this, and not all the messed up stuff they're doing to gut the executive branch.

Re: Order Declassifying JFK and MLK Assassination Records [pdf]

#143
post #63

Most of the documents were declassified already, I think 99% of 170,000 files or some large number. This was through the The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. I don't know what's to gain in this release other than closure?

Someone previously decided that the remaining 1%, 1700 files, shouldn't be viewed by the public. Why? 1700 files is plenty to hold some interesting truths.

Former directors have answered this pretty openly. Anything that is left is just because it contains identifiable information for people still alive. Lots of home addresses, names of investigators, etc.

Re: Order Declassifying JFK and MLK Assassination Records [pdf]

#144

Interesting considering the attempted assassination of Trump. Perhaps he feels that some sunlight could help prevent future assassinations, or maybe he simply feels kinship to these his fallen political peers.

Nah, one of two things: 1) it's a distraction from the actually important, messed up stuff he's doing, or 2) there's something in the files that makes some government agency that Trump hates (like the FBI) look bad.

Re: Order Declassifying JFK and MLK Assassination Records [pdf]

#145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As much as some would like to pretend it does, his issues in his personal life still don’t make segregation and lack of voting rights an okay thing.

Yes, but he was really bad in some respects, that clashes with his public image/caricature in a way that kind of matters

In what respects?

Re: Order Declassifying JFK and MLK Assassination Records [pdf]

#146

It's just a symbolic order, won't actually lead to anything important being released because the agencies have the authority to reject whatever they want. Many of the files have already been destroyed anyways. See: Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) t…

None of those restrictions have to do with redaction.

Re: Order Declassifying JFK and MLK Assassination Records [pdf]

#147

Most of the documents were declassified already, I think 99% of 170,000 files or some large number. This was through the The President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. I don't know what's to gain in this release other than closure?

This isn't quite true. Those files were redacted. Now they would be unredacted.

Re: Order Declassifying JFK and MLK Assassination Records [pdf]

#150
post #142
post #2

Surely nobody sees this as a bad thing. It’s been a bit since these events happened.

As another commenter pointed out, this is just candy to act as a distraction. Trump (and Musk) want people talking about something relatively unimportant like this, and not all the messed up stuff they're doing to gut the executive branch.

Musk and co held an X space last night to publicly discuss their gutting of USAID and more. They have actively publicized DOGE. The idea that this is a smokescreen is totally unfounded.

Have you considered that releasing these files is just fulfilling a campaign promise? Or that if a non-Trump admin had done this it would've been celebrated?

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