Investigative Files Regarding the Murder of Robert F. Kennedy, U.S. Senator
National Archives Releases Thousands of Pages of Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Records
The National Archives is making significant strides in releasing assassination-related records under Executive Order 14176, signed by President Donald Trump on January 23, 2025. This order mandates the declassification of documents concerning the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In the case of Senator Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, the National Archives has been releasing related files progressively since April 2025. On April 18, 2025, 10,185 pages (229 PDF files) of records were released, with more following on May 7 (64,686 pages or 1,499 PDF files and 17 MP3 audio files) and June 12 (9,653 pages or 237 PDF files).
These releases are the result of a coordinated federal effort involving the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Department of State, and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The process includes systematic identification and digitization of records, careful declassification review to balance transparency with national security concerns, and posting the released files online to facilitate public access.
The records released on June 12 also include documents provided by the CIA, including 148 documents that were previously released as part of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection and contain information regarding Senator Robert F. Kennedy's assassination. Some of the documents included in the June 12 release are from the Johnson and Ford Presidential Libraries, the State Department, and the CIA.
It's important to note that some information in the released records may be withheld under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as required by law. Media inquiries can be made via email at [email protected], while reference inquiries can be made via email at [email protected].
The National Archives is responsible for serving as the final repository of the records of the United States federal government and making those records available to the American people. This ongoing process of releasing assassination-related records marks a new "business as usual" for the Archives, enabling faster and more comprehensive release of historic documents than ever before. While most files about Senator Kennedy have been released by mid-2025, related releases for President Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continue, reflecting a phased and thorough declassification effort under the executive order.
For records released on May 7, 2025, some may have "FBI Experience" in the title and represent evidentiary materials from the FBI Los Angeles (LA) Field Office investigation into the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy (KENSALT). Records released on May 7 with the title "FOIA Copies" consist of copies of records previously released under the Freedom of Information Act in 1976 that were subsequently added to the KENSALT case file.
The National Archives is working closely with other federal agencies across the Executive Branch to ensure that any remaining records are identified and transferred to the National Archives as soon as possible. The process continues in stages with ongoing review and declassification.
