President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order declassifying the remaining federal records related to the assassinations of former president John F Kennedy, Senator Robert F Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
The order directs the head of national intelligence and the Attorney General to develop a plan to declassify the remaining records for former president Kennedy within 15 days, and within 45 days for the other two cases.
"People have been waiting for years, for decades," Mr Trump said from the Oval Office while he signed the order. "Everything will be revealed."
Former president Kennedy was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald while riding through Dallas, Texas, in 1963, with his death causing a swirl of conspiracy theories. His senator brother was shot by Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan in 1968, allegedly in retaliation for his support of Israel following the Arab-Israeli War.
Mr King was targeted several times by the federal government and was assassinated by James Earl Ray in 1968, though some believe the killer was a scapegoat.
In his first term, Mr Trump ordered the release of some records on the John F Kennedy assassination, but some of the results were redacted after concerns from intelligence agencies. During his campaign, he promised to release classified intelligence and law enforcement files on the 1963 assassination.
"Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth," Mr Trump wrote in the executive order. "It is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay."
On Thursday, Mr Trump asked that the pen he used to sign the order be given to Robert F Kennedy, Jr, the former senator's son and his nominee for secretary of health.
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A newswire is displayed in a teletype reporting the 1963 assassination of John F Kennedy, the US president at the time. AFP -
The US National Archives has released a trove of files related to the president's assassination. AFP -
A total of 12,879 documents have been made public. AFP -
An unofficial tour guide shows assassination theories outside the former Texas School Book Depository in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas. AFP -
The historic front pages from US newspapers announce Kennedy's assassination. AFP -
The old Texas School Book Depository in Dallas, where Kennedy was shot, is now a museum. AFP -
A copy of Aaron Shikler's official portrait of Kennedy at the Newseum in Washington. AFP -
Tourists ride in a trolley along the JFK motorcade route in Dallas. AFP -
A photo shows an FBI agent re-enacting Kennedy's assassination near its original location. AFP -
Thousands of documents were blocked from release by the White House due to national security concerns. AFP -
A historic photo of the Texas School Book Depository. AFP
