Trump says he hopes to make almost all JFK assassination files public
WASHINGTON- President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he hopes to make almost all of the documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy available to the public.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/923876612013248512
The National Archives on Thursday evening began releasing the 54-year-old documents under the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992.
The law requires the release of all documents related to the assassination but the president has the authority to block the release of information he believes might compromise national security.
Trump over the past week teased the release in a series of tweets that gave many the impression that all of the files would be released.
Reports indicate that about 300 of total 3,100 documents were withheld at the request of national security officials and are being subject to a re-review process. Many of the released documents are heavily redacted.
One document confirmed long-standing reports that the CIA recruited Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana to arrange assassination attempts on former Cuban Communist dictator Fidel Castro. The file states that Attorney General Robert Kennedy opposed the plan because it would hinder the Justice Department’s ability to prosecute organized crime figures.
Another document said that FBI was informed of a threat against Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald one day before Oswald was shot to death by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby.
Oswald was in police custody at the time of the shooting.
None of the documents thus far released corroborate Trump’s campaign assertion that the Cuban-born father of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) may have been involved in the Kennedy assassination.
Cruz on Thursday was asked by an MSNBC reporter whether he believed the release of the documents would put the allegation to rest.
“I look forward to seeing what’s in the files,” he said.
Cruz went on to say: “There are ludicrous claims and then there are claims that go beyond ludicrous. And this one falls into the latter category.”
This article is republished with permission from Talk Media News
Bryan is an award-winning political journalist who has extensive experience covering Congress and Maryland state government.
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