Summary
- Over 230,000 pages related to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination have been declassified by the U.S. government.
- The documents reveal FBI investigations, memos, and alleged prison confessions tied to MLK’s murder.
- The files were released following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January 2017.
- Dr. King's family was informed of the release, though some members opposed making the documents public.
Washington Jul 22: Documents relating to assassination of iconic civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, famous for “I Have a Dream” speech, has been declassified and U. S. Government has released more than two lakh 30 thousand pages of related documents.
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence under President Donald Trump, made the announcement today through a post on the social media platform X.
According to Gabbard, the long-awaited disclosure comes nearly six decades after widespread public speculation and unanswered questions surrounding King’s tragic death.
“The released files shed light on the FBI’s investigation into Dr. King’s assassination, including leads pursued by the bureau, internal progress reports, and memos. They also reference a statement by James Earl Ray’s former cellmate, who claimed Ray had spoken of a possible plot to kill King,” Gabbard stated.
Today, after nearly 60 years of questions surrounding the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are releasing 230,000 MLK assassination files, available now at https://t.co/71P3p5jBgK. The documents include details about the FBI’s investigation into the assassination… pic.twitter.com/l96t9tgYmn
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) July 21, 2025
President Trump, just three days after assuming office, signed an executive order on January 23 mandating the release of any remaining classified files related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., according to Xinhua news agency.
In 1977, a court order had sealed a massive collection of over 240,000 pages of FBI records tied to King’s assassination. These documents were subsequently stored under restricted access by the National Archives and Records Administration.
The Trump administration informed Dr. King’s surviving family members, including his children Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, about the decision to release the files.
Their legal teams are currently reviewing the documents. However, some members of the King family have expressed opposition to the public release.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remains a towering figure in American history, renowned for his steadfast dedication to nonviolent resistance against racial injustice and his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech, which continues to inspire movements for equality worldwide.
King delivered the iconic speech on August 28, 1963. In the speech, he called for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the United States.
He was assassinated on April 23, 1967 at Memphis, Tennessee. (Edited)
