When it comes to government files about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, as well other prominent assassinations, the Jeffrey Epstein case, stuff involving the CIA, and numerous other things from the past, a lot of people have a certain impression.
The idea is that there is something called “The Kennedy Files,” and something else called “The Epstein Files,” which provide unquestioned, definitive proof of everything that happened in those cases.
The belief is that the truth of what truly happened is known, that the government has been hiding that truth, and that some document will emerge, providing absolute answers and clarity, once and for all, and that the only existing obstacle to that happening is the stroke of the president’s pen.
Answers Remain Elusive
In real life, things tend not to work nearly that neatly. Sure, documents are occasionally declassified or released, about those things. But such releases tend not to lead to definitive answers or even more clarity.
You may have heard that Donald Trump signed an executive order this week to release the records connected to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
What Trump did was closer to getting the ball rolling toward doing so rather than ordering the release directly.
“Within 45 days of the date of this order, the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General shall, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Counsel to the President, review records related to the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and present a plan to the President for the full and complete release of these records,” the text of the order says.
One expert talked about this in an interview this week.
Against the Conspiratists
Gerald Posner is the author of Case Closed, a book published in the 1990s arguing that John F. Kennedy’s assassination was not the result of a conspiracy but rather Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone. Posner appeared on MSNBC this week to discuss the new developments.
Posner stated in the interview that he would like to hear about some things in the files that have remained sealed, including about CIA and Mafia plots against Fidel Castro in the 1960s. He acknowledged some things may emerge that would be embarrassing for the government.
However, Posner added, “[I] don’t think what most Americans are looking for, which is a smoking gun document that will turn the case on its head and say ‘here’s who killed Kennedy, it was really part of the secret government and here are the people involved. That’s not going to happen.”
Posner has questions about what Oswald’s motivation was. But he added that “what’s missing… is proof and evidence. And it’s not going to be sitting there in a file that’s been sitting there in the National Archives for all of these decades.” He also predicted that if the upcoming document release does not find proof of a conspiracy, the Trump ally Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will demand something akin to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the issue will be far from resolved anyway.
The Families Speak
Meanwhile, Jack Schlossberg, the journalist and social media star who is John F. Kennedy’s grandson, commented this week on Trump’s move.
“The truth is alot sadder than the myth – a tragedy that didn’t need to happen. Not part of an inevitable grand scheme,” Schlossberg wrote on X.
“Declassification is using JFK as a political prop, when he’s not here to punch back.”
As for Martin Luther King’s family, they released a statement as well.
“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.”
Author Expertise and Experience: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
