In a historic move, US President Donald Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, announced that the administration has declassified and released over 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK).
The files, made public after nearly six decades of speculation and demands for transparency, shed new light on the FBI’s investigation into King’s death, including internal memos, possible leads, and key testimonies. Notably, the documents include details of a former cellmate of James Earl Ray — the man convicted for King’s murder — who allegedly discussed an assassination plot with him.
Gabbard shared the update on social media platform X, stating that the release was aimed at addressing the longstanding questions surrounding MLK’s assassination.
This development follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump on January 23, just three days after assuming office, directing the declassification of any remaining files related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., according to a report by Xinhua news agency.
Back in 1977, a US court had ordered that the records — over 240,000 pages collected by the FBI — be sealed and preserved by the National Archives and Records Administration, blocking them from public access.
The Trump administration informed King’s family, including his two surviving children Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, of the decision. While their teams are currently reviewing the records, some members of the King family have voiced opposition to the public release.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remains one of the most revered leaders of the American civil rights movement, globally remembered for his unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance against racial segregation. His “I Have a Dream” speech continues to inspire generations in the fight for justice and equality.
