Approximately 10,000 pages of files related to the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 have been published, including a handwritten note from the assassin stating that the Democrat "must be eliminated." Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after giving a speech celebrating his victory in the California Democratic presidential primary. His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence. In 2023, a panel rejected his release, stating he still lacks understanding of his crime.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of the New York senator and current Secretary of Health and Human Services, praised the publication of the files by President Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, highlighting their courage and tireless efforts. Kennedy Jr. stated that revealing these documents is crucial to restoring trust in the U.S. government.
The recently published documents by the United States regarding the death of Robert F. Kennedy include FBI interviews with tourists who had heard rumors about the shooting weeks before the tragedy. Distrust of government intelligence agencies has been a consistent theme. The release of previously secret files paves the way for greater public scrutiny and questioning of the actions of entities such as the CIA and FBI.
In January, Trump ordered the release of government documents related to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Sirhan Sirhan's lawyers have argued that he no longer poses a danger, and in 2021, a parole board deemed him suitable for release.
The publication of these files follows the revelation of unredacted documents concerning the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. These actions have been defended by Trump in the name of transparency. The documents include handwritten notes by Sirhan, one of which mentions the overthrow of the current president.
The National Archives and Records Administration has made 229 electronic documents available on its website. Notably, in 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the release of Sirhan Sirhan, keeping him in state custody.
