Today the National Archives releases CIA and FBI files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The release of the Jfk files is a long-anticipated event that many people hope will shed more light on the death of JFK.
What will the files contain?
According to USA Today, historians believe the records contain everything from small, legal, and investigative details to important notes revealing the movements and actions of Lee Harvey Oswald in the months before the shooting.
In particular, historians hope there is revealing information about Oswald's movements in Mexico.
However, it is also believed there are going to be people named in the reports who acted as informants for the United States government during the 1960’s.
A movie is a cause for the release of the JFK files.
Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Oswald was subsequently arrested after fleeing the scene and murdering a police officer.
However, before Oswald could be properly interviewed by federal law enforcement, he was shot and killed Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner. The string of events is considered bizarre because there was no known connection between Ruby and Harvey. Plus, Ruby, who had a criminal background, seemed to be one of the people least likely to seek revenge for the killing of Kennedy.
However, historians and conspiracy theorists have long suggested there was a conspiracy and subsequent cover-up of the assassination.
In 1991, director Oliver Stone released his movie JFK. In the movie, Stone presented the idea that the shooting of the president was the result of a grand conspiracy, The film resulted in the passing of the John F.
Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992.
The act stated that all records about the assassination should be released on October 26, 2017. Also, the law says none of the documents can be censored.
JFK files released by President Trump
Despite the objections from some in the intelligence community, President Trump authorized the release of the JFK files.
He sent out an enthusiastic tweet on October 25, touting the release.
The long anticipated release of the #JFKFiles will take place tomorrow. So interesting!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017
CNN reports President Trump can withhold some of the files he deems too sensitive. However, there is no indication he plans to withhold any of the files. While the release of the documents is historic, there is no indication it will change the position of the government that Oswald acted alone.
