Nearly 60 years after Senator RFK’s assassination, the U.S. government has made thousands of previously secret records public. Backed by his son Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this release could shed new light—or raise new doubts—about what really happened that night in Los Angeles.
BY PC Bureau
The Trump administration has begun releasing a trove of previously classified documents related to the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, unveiling more than 10,000 pages of government records and potentially reigniting public debate over the nearly six-decade-old case.
This declassification effort, ordered by President Donald Trump early in his term, has the backing of the senator’s son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who currently serves as Secretary of Health and Human Services. The first batch of documents was made available online on Friday, with additional releases expected in the coming months.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, overseeing the process, said the initiative reflects the administration’s broader commitment to government transparency.
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“Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation,” Gabbard stated.
Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation thanks to @POTUS leadership and commitment to maximum transparency.… pic.twitter.com/Wvy2fkS9Ai
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) April 18, 2025
The newly available records, released in partnership with the National Archives, contain limited redactions for privacy reasons. According to Gabbard, an additional 50,000 pages of material—discovered in FBI and CIA storage facilities—are still under review and will be released at a later date.
Senator Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles in June 1968 while campaigning for the presidency. Sirhan Sirhan was arrested at the scene and later convicted of the murder. Over the years, Sirhan has alternately confessed to the killing and denied responsibility, sometimes citing memory loss. His bids for parole have been consistently rejected, most recently in 2021 when California Governor Gavin Newsom overturned a recommendation by the state parole board.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long expressed skepticism about the official account of his father’s death. Breaking with many of his siblings, he publicly supported Sirhan’s release during the 2021 parole hearing and has welcomed the document release. “I’m very grateful,” Kennedy Jr. said of the declassification.
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While the bulk of the original investigation was handled by Los Angeles authorities, and FBI records have been publicly accessible through California archives for years, it remains uncertain whether the newly released federal documents will offer significant new revelations.
Some researchers continue to question Sirhan’s sole culpability, pointing to conflicting witness accounts and alleged evidence of additional bullets at the crime scene. Others, however, maintain that Sirhan acted alone.
The release of the RFK files follows previous declassification efforts related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the 1968 killing of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Whether the new documents will provide clarity or stir further speculation remains to be seen. Nevertheless, their release marks a major step toward opening once-sealed government records to public scrutiny.
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