Final Batch of Documents Unsealed as Conspiracy Theories Persist
The US government has released a new batch of files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a case that continues to fuel conspiracy theories more than six decades after the tragic event. This release, which follows an executive order by former President Donald Trump, unveils the final set of previously classified documents surrounding the 1963 assassination.
Experts are currently scrutinising the documents, though many have been released in previous versions with redactions or poor legibility. While the material may offer new insights, many historians caution against expecting any major revelations from the files.
In 1992, the US Congress passed a law stipulating that all documents related to JFK’s assassination should be unsealed within 25 years. However, national security concerns meant that certain documents were withheld, leaving room for speculation. Some believe that Lee Harvey Oswald, the official assassin, did not act alone, with numerous theories pointing to potential involvement from government agencies, the mafia, or other parties.
The latest unsealing, which includes 1,123 documents from the National Archives, is the result of an executive order signed by Trump, who had promised to release 80,000 pages of material. Despite this, some documents remain redacted, and certain files are difficult to read due to fading or poor scanning. Experts like David Barrett, a professor at Villanova University, have stated that while the release is useful, they do not expect groundbreaking findings.
Historians, including Alice George, suggest that even though more documents may be released in the future, uncovering the truth is increasingly difficult as many people involved are no longer alive. Public scepticism remains high, with many Americans doubting Oswald acted alone, though no alternative theory has yet emerged from the recently declassified files.
The assassination of President Kennedy has long been one of the greatest mysteries in US history, and despite repeated document releases under both Trump and President Joe Biden, significant parts of the investigation remain secret. The unsealing of these files is just the latest chapter in a longstanding effort to bring transparency to a case that continues to captivate the public’s imagination.
