President Donald Trump has decided to allow the release of more than 3,000 files related to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy, despite pleas from the CIA to keep them hidden.
The president tweeted his decision on Saturday, ending speculation as to what he would do with the files that have been kept secret for more than three decades.
“Subject to the receipt of further information, I will be allowing, as President, the long blocked and classified JFK FILES to be opened,” he said.
Subject to the receipt of further information, I will be allowing, as President, the long blocked and classified JFK FILES to be opened.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 21, 2017
The majority of the documents set to be released on the 1963 assassination are from the 1960s and 1970s but, according to USA Today, many also come from the 1990s and were in response to the Oliver Stone movie “JFK” which raised conspiracy theories.
The National Archives were ordered by Congress to release the documents by Oct. 26, 2017 in the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992.
But the release could have been blocked by the sitting president. Something the CIA had been pressuring President Trump to do.
According to a congressional official who spoke to Politico, the CIA has been lobbying the president to stymie the release of some files that might affect national security, or to protect the identities of personas still alive who acted as informants.
Congressman Adam Schiff, who reminded everyone that President Trump insinuated, during the presidential campaign, that Sen. Ted Cruz’s father might have had a hand in the assassination.
.@POTUS, does this mean Ted Cruz’s father will be exposed? https://t.co/RGbozDUgOR
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) October 21, 2017
A Democrat National Committee official supported that theory too, but Schiff didn’t bother to mention that.
Others on social media also wondered, tongue in cheek, if Cruz was worried about the release of the documents.
Bad news for Dad Cruz https://t.co/moY2ru9W6S
— Bearded Stoner (@beardedstoner) October 21, 2017
Ted Cruz must be shook
— Craig Danger (@CraigDDanger) October 21, 2017
Watch out, @tedcruz. ? https://t.co/MBKonBUtNI
— Conservative R G (@ConservativeRG) October 21, 2017
Progressives found a way to downplay the significance of the news and accuse President Trump of using it as a distraction.
This is how Trump tries to distract from the death of 4 Americans in Niger due to Trump admin’s intelligence failures https://t.co/teF0Qzny2W
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@Deanofcomedy) October 21, 2017
We may find out the truth about JFK assassination before we find out what really happened in Niger https://t.co/ffe73xyBo8
— Greg Pinelo (@gregpinelo) October 21, 2017
Or Benghazi.
This was already scheduled, as Congress mandated in 1992 that all assassination documents be released within 25 years, with Oct. 26 as the release date https://t.co/ENlvskvdo4
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) October 21, 2017
He is taking credit for the JFK Records Act of 1992 (which gave October 26, 2017 as the declassification date), but I doubt he knows that. https://t.co/6iIuVTSfKU
— Alex Wellerstein (@wellerstein) October 21, 2017
He took no credit. All he said was that he was going to allow it, as he could have blocked it.
Others were extremely excited about the news.
Oh man… it’s going down. I am psyched! https://t.co/1iMv9IV9WV
— Tim Roberts (@21stCenturyTim) October 21, 2017
The release of the JFK files is a good transparency move by @realdonaldtrump. @pressclubdc https://t.co/2qf0QnWg3H
— NPC President (@NPCPresident) October 21, 2017
Thank you. This is the correct decision. Please do not allow exceptions for any agency of government. JFK files have been hidden too long. https://t.co/mqo7Q9XWt3
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) October 21, 2017
BREAKING: Trump To Allow The Long Blocked And Classified JFK FILES To Be Opened.
Trump, The Most Transparent President EVER?#JFKfiles #JFK pic.twitter.com/TRhy3cnJKB— Deplorable?Rāzərbak (@MediaJuggernaut) October 21, 2017
This is OUR country & WE should have access to these files! It’s been 50 years! Thank you @POTUS! https://t.co/fgmcLo0Vnm
— Lisa Smith (@lsmith4680) October 21, 2017
My guess is the #FakeNewsMedia will somehow pinpoint @realDonaldTrump for the murder of JFK. https://t.co/ReR4iG0I2D
— General John F Kelly (@GenJohnFKelly) October 21, 2017
Probably.
Wake up right! Receive our free morning news blast HERE
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Britney Spears shows off her rockin’ new bod, but had to spoil it with a liberal message about ‘Dreamers’ - December 24, 2017
- Border patrol forget they’re supposed to be heartless, deliver beautiful baby at the border - December 24, 2017
- After scoring tax cut victory, Trump sees ‘tremendous Democrat support’ for his next big initiative - December 24, 2017
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
