MLK’s family responds to Trump’s order to declassify assassination files

NY Post ^ | 1/24/25 | Nicholas McEntyre

[Libloather]

Martin Luther King Jr.’s family offered their response to President Trump’s decision to release the secret FBI files on the civil rights icon’s assassination nearly 60 years ago — a “deeply personal family loss” that they are still feeling today.

On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order to release the files connected to the deaths of King, President John F. Kennedy and his brother Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

“For us, the assassination of our father is a deeply personal family loss that we have endured over the last 56 years. We hope to be provided the opportunity to review the files as a family prior to its public release,” the family said.

Trump said “everything will be revealed” while signing the executive order in the Oval Office.

The order called the release of the files “long overdue” and requires the Department of Justice and Office of the Director of National Intelligence to rapidly prepare for the release.

**SNIP**

King’s family has continued to work toward a comprehensive investigation into the assassination, emphasizing the importance of uncovering the truth while also focusing on preserving the icon’s legacy, Fox Atlanta reported.

[Libloather]

Sounds fair.

[Jonty30]

In other words, they don’t want information released that could be damaging, such as questionable connections that he might have had.

[stanne]

He was a public figure by his choice. He was assassinatedbecause of that. Tge assassination is the public’s concern

[Libloather]

JFK’s grandson Jack Schlossberg reacts to Trump’s order to release assassination files

https://nypost.com/2025/01/23/us-news/jfks-grandson-jack-schlossberg-reacts-to-trumps-order-to-release-assassination-files/

[Leaning Right]

> Sounds fair. <

Yes, give the family an early look, maybe a few days. But no veto power over any of it.

[PGalt]

BTTTruth

[Libloather]

Trump orders release of long-secret final files on JFK, RFK, MLK assassinations

https://nypost.com/2025/01/23/us-news/trump-orders-release-of-final-files-on-jfk-rfk-mlk-assassinations/

[vaskypilot]

I am fine with the family seeing it first; however, the family cannot ask for modifications.

[MortMan]

King’s family has continued to work toward a comprehensive investigation into the assassination, emphasizing the importance of uncovering the truth while also focusing on preserving the icon’s legacy, Fox Atlanta reported.

Uncovering the truth sometimes tarnishes legacies. However, the truth is still required.

[delchiante]

JFK’s grandson is a jackass

[Jonty30]

I don’t have a problem with them seeing it first, so they can plan any responses that might come up. I can also support any embarrassing information that shouldn’t concern the nation, such as medical issues or Erectile issues. But if King had unseemly connections, it should be known by the nation.

[Bob434]

Several folks have said that while the files may be declassified, they likely are going to be so heavily redacted, blanked out in places, that it will be near impossible to glean anything new or shocking from them

We will see though.

[DIRTYSECRET]

JFK died 30 or so years before he was born. Schlossberg doesn’t have JFK Jr.s good looks. No crown prince title for him.

Is it a family privacy issue? Does not apply.

[rlmorel]

I see their viewpoint, but I don’t think they should have veto power. I am in favor of releasing all of it. Not because I might not or might want to see salacious information of his reported philandering, use of prostitutes, or whatever, but because I am concerned there might be involvement of the federal government.

That is what is important. But it is also important to get the full context, particularly with things like his purported ties to Communists or Communist fronts.

And if King was being blackmailed by the Communists due to even one instance of infidelity or of engaging a prostitute, that is important to know.

It is going to be the same with the Kennedys.

I am not naive enough to think we will see everything, but we should see as much as we can. Probably to influence and steer us to what someone wants us to think.

[Red Badger]

IMHO, King was murdered by the FBI under Hoover..........

[RummyChick]

I agree. It is a courtsey for the family of a major public figure that was killed.

I saw Rfk,Jr saying he believed his dad was killed by someone behind him.

JFK grandson is very weird. Makes weird tweet. Like this on
Jack Schlossberg
@JBKSchlossberg
True or false:

Usha Vance is way hotter than Jackie O

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/im-not-sure-happening-jfks-215650956.html

[ComputerGuy]

I remember that night. I was living in my swinging bachelor pad off Dupont Circle. The sky lit up that night. It was just like being back in-country except there were no tracers.

[dfwgator]

I think also they hired Calypso Louie to murder Malcolm X.

[Red Badger]

While that is entirely possible, it may just have been business as usual for that demographic................

[AnotherUnixGeek]

“For us, the assassination of our father is a deeply personal family loss that we have endured over the last 56 years. We hope to be provided the opportunity to review the files as a family prior to its public release,” the family said.

Sounds reasonable, as long as it's understood that MLK's family has no right to redact or withhold any information in the files, and no right to impose any long delays on the release to the public. Same goes for the JFK and RFK families.