Trump Administration Releases 10,000 Pages of RFK Assassination Files, Fueling Scrutiny of 1968 Killing

The Trump administration has unsealed approximately 10,000 pages of previously classified documents related to the June 5, 1968, assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a move aimed at increasing transparency around one of America’s most consequential historical events. The release, ordered by President Donald Trump through an executive order signed in January 2025, includes FBI memos, witness interviews, and handwritten notes by the convicted assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, offering researchers and the public new insights into the federal investigation. The documents, uploaded to the National Archives website on April 18, 2025, have reignited interest in the case, particularly given ongoing debates about its official narrative.

The files, detailed in reports from The Hill, New York Post, and CBS News, contain a mix of previously unreleased and partially disclosed records. Among the most striking are Sirhan’s handwritten notes, in which he wrote, “RFK must be disposed of like his brother was” and described an “unshakeable obsession” with killing Kennedy due to the senator’s support for Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War, as noted by CBS News. Other documents include Justice Department correspondence, crime scene and autopsy photos, witness statements, and letters of condolence from global leaders, according to The Independent. The New York Post highlighted reports of rumored assassination attempts on Kennedy in cities like Milwaukee and Nebraska, reflecting the tense atmosphere of his 1968 presidential campaign.

The release is part of a broader initiative by Trump to declassify records related to high-profile assassinations, including those of John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Martin Luther King Jr. The Hill reported that Trump’s executive order, issued shortly after his second inauguration, seeks to fulfill campaign promises to disclose sensitive government files. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who announced the release alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., emphasized its significance. “Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation,” Gabbard said, per USA Today. She also revealed that her team discovered an additional 50,000 pages related to the RFK and MLK assassinations, which may be released later, according to the Daily Mail.

RFK Jr., the senator’s son, has been a vocal supporter of the declassification, praising Trump and Gabbard for their “courage” and “dogged efforts.” “Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,” he stated, as quoted by The Guardian. His advocacy carries personal weight, as he has long questioned the official account, suggesting the possibility of a second gunman and even casting doubt on Sirhan’s guilt, a view noted by the Los Angeles Times. While Sirhan was convicted of first-degree murder and remains in prison, conspiracy theories—some fueled by RFK Jr.’s claims—persist, though prior document releases, like those for JFK, have not substantiated such theories, per CBS News.

The documents, while extensive, vary in readability. Some scanned records and handwritten notes are difficult to decipher, according to CBS News, and limited redactions were made to protect personal information, such as Social Security numbers, following errors in earlier JFK file releases, as noted by The Washington Post. The National Archives has made the files accessible at archives.gov/rfk, allowing public scrutiny of the FBI’s and other agencies’ handling of the case, which was primarily investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, whose files were released in 1988.

Public and scholarly reactions are mixed. Supporters view the release as a vital step toward transparency, potentially rebuilding trust in government institutions, as RFK Jr. argued. Critics, however, caution that the documents may not resolve lingering questions and could fuel speculation without definitive new evidence, a concern echoed in analyses of the JFK files, per Sky News. Posts on X reflect similar divisions, with some users highlighting inconsistencies in witness accounts and ballistics reports that suggest a second gunman, though such claims remain inconclusive and require further verification.