Executive Order 14174: Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Executive Order calls for the full and complete release of all federal records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The goal is to ensure transparency for their families and the American public.
Key Points:
Context:
The 1992 John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act required all JFK-related records to be disclosed by 2017 unless withholding them was justified by national security or other concerns.
Despite prior redactions and extensions by previous administrations, this Executive Order asserts that continued withholding is no longer justified.
Declassification Timeline:
Within 15 days: Develop a plan to release JFK-related records.
Within 45 days: Develop a plan to release records related to the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., even though no law explicitly requires this.
Reasoning:
The President has determined that withholding these records is against the public interest and that their release is long overdue.
Takeaway
While I support transparency, I believe this Executive Order should balance public interest with the need to protect sensitive information. Hastily declassifying all records could inadvertently harm national security or privacy while failing to provide meaningful closure. A more measured approach—where an independent bipartisan committee reviews and selectively releases records—might achieve the goal of transparency while minimizing risks.
