What's in the Next (Last?) Batch of JFK Files? Here's One View

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Robert Reynolds has researched the assassination records collection over the years and gives his thoughts on the last files that Trump said will be released. What will they have? What will we learn?

Nut graf: "More releases will certainly come, but what about prospects for revelations? There has been more than enough time to sift through and weigh the meaning of the increasingly elusive redactions in the collection, and as the fortune-telling 8 ball says, “Outlook not so good.” As he points out, these files have already been reviewed in their unredacted form. They are reportedly mostly the redacted names of agents, some sources (still alive), SS/tax returns, and some intelligence methods: but nothing connected to the assassination.

My guess, for what it's worth (near zero) is there will be embarrassing information about the CIA bribing foreign leaders - especially Mexican - and some other nasty business of corruption (blackmail? prostitutes?) but, as Reynolds says, nothing about the assassination. We'll see. One questionable point: Reynolds says that Oswald's tax returns, due to existing laws, are still being withheld? I was sure that Marina authorized/okayed their release a decade or so ago? Anyone know further?

Updated: Here are some of Oswald's tax returns/forms that were released by Marina (it's very slow loading): https://web.archive.org/web/20001208085400/http:/www.redacted.com/jfk_sub_tax_ix.htm

Link here: https://www.washingtondecoded.com/site/2025/01/jfkarc.html

[Jake Maxwell]

Robert Reynolds has researched the assassination records collection over the years and gives his thoughts on the last files that Trump said will be released. What will they have? What will we learn?

Nut graf: "More releases will certainly come, but what about prospects for revelations? There has been more than enough time to sift through and weigh the meaning of the increasingly elusive redactions in the collection, and as the fortune-telling 8 ball says, “Outlook not so good.” As he pointed out, these files have already been reviewed in their unredacted form. They are reportedly mostly the redacted names of agents, some sources (still alive), SS/tax returns, and some methods but nothing connected to the assassination.

My guess, for what it's worth (near zero) is there will be embarrassing information about the CIA bribing foreign leaders - especially Mexican - and some other nasty business of corruption (blackmail? prostitutes?) but nothing about the assassination. We'll see. One questionable point: Reynolds says that Oswald's tax returns, due to existing laws, are still being withheld? I was sure that Marina authorized/okayed their release a decade or so ago? Anyone know further?

Updated: Here are some of Oswald's tax returns/forms that were released by Marina (it's very slow loading): https://web.archive.org/web/20001208085400/http:/www.redacted.com/jfk_sub_tax_ix.htm

Link here: https://www.washingtondecoded.com/site/2025/01/jfkarc.html

Whatever is released... it is most likely the most revealing and damning information to be released, since it is what Trump was told earlier not to release... The Secret Service, CIA, FBI and Dallas law enforcement will likely be implicated... 

[Tom Mahon]

Whatever is released... it is most likely the most revealing and damning information to be released, since it is what Trump was told earlier not to release... The Secret Service, CIA, FBI and Dallas law enforcement will likely be implicated...

So he said.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Whatever is released... it is most likely the most revealing and damning information to be released, since it is what Trump was told earlier not to release... The Secret Service, CIA, FBI and Dallas law enforcement will likely be implicated...

These remaining files were, from what I've read, originally reviewed by the ARRB. Judge John Tunnheim, the chairman, said he's seen them and there's nothing about the assassination in them. Others who have seen them say the same thing. Nothing there.

They were later reviewed for release by the Clinton Administration, the Bush Administration, the Obama Administration, the Trump Administration, and the Biden Administration. If you think all of those people - the ARRB, the Judge, all of these Presidents and their people - have covered up for the murder of JFK, know that the files have information exposing the real perpetrators of the assassination, then, well, I'm not sure what evidence would persuade you that there wasn't a government conspiracy behind the assassination. Why would all of these presidents and people cover this up? Thirty and forty years later? For what benefit? They are protecting people long dead, people who essentially committed treason? Again, why?

[Richard Smith]

Kudos to President Trump for getting this done despite the obstruction of the establishment.  The release of these files should be the final blow to those CTers who cling to them like a life raft to preserve hope in a JFK conspiracy.  Even a lot of people who are not particularly interested in the JFK assassination and have no strong view for or against a conspiracy theory question why the files would not be released if there is nothing to hide.  Full transparency will address those concerns. 

[Royell Storing]

Kudos to President Trump for getting this done despite the obstruction of the establishment.  The release of these files should be the final blow to those CTers who cling to them like a life raft to preserve hope in a JFK conspiracy.  Even a lot of people who are not particularly interested in the JFK assassination and have no strong view for or against a conspiracy theory question why the files would not be released if there is nothing to hide.  Full transparency will address those concerns.

   Who needs a "life raft"? Knott Lab Forensic SCIENCE has found the SBT, "IS IMPOSSIBLE". Like it or Not, SCIENCE has spoken.

[Steve M. Galbraith]

Kudos to President Trump for getting this done despite the obstruction of the establishment.  The release of these files should be the final blow to those CTers who cling to them like a life raft to preserve hope in a JFK conspiracy.  Even a lot of people who are not particularly interested in the JFK assassination and have no strong view for or against a conspiracy theory question why the files would not be released if there is nothing to hide.  Full transparency will address those concerns.

Polls show that between 60% to 85% of the public over the decades believe in a conspiracy behind the assassination and reject the lone assassin explanation. It's been "the establishment" that has tried to tell them this didn't happen; it was one man with one rifle. The fact that we've been terribly served by the establishment (not as terribly as you think but that's another discussion) doesn't mean they are always wrong, must always be opposed. Sometimes they are right and the public wrong. As in this matter.

Second, you don't really think the conspiracy promoters will be dissuaded from their goofy ideas ("It was the CIA!" "No, it was the Pentagon!" "No, it was the Mob!" "No, it was anti-Castro Cubans!" "No, it was the Birchers!") with this release? When they are released and show nothing, what will the response be? Will it be any different than the one they gave with the previous releases? What is the usual response to conspiracy believers of any kind when the evidence contradicts their claims? Answer: "The lack of evidence is a conspiracy!"

[Richard Smith]

Polls show that between 60% to 85% of the public over the decades believe in a conspiracy behind the assassination and reject the lone assassin explanation. It's been "the establishment" that has tried to tell them this didn't happen; it was one man with one rifle. The fact that we've been terribly served by the establishment (not as terribly as you think but that's another discussion) doesn't mean they are always wrong, must always be opposed. Sometimes they are right and the public wrong. As in this matter.

Second, you don't really think the conspiracy promoters will be dissuaded from their goofy ideas ("It was the CIA!" "No, it was the Pentagon!" "No, it was the Mob!" "No, it was anti-Castro Cubans!" "No, it was the Birchers!") with this release? When they are released and show nothing, what will the response be? Will it be any different than the one they gave with the previous releases? What is the usual response to conspiracy believers of any kind when the evidence contradicts their claims? Answer: "The lack of evidence is a conspiracy!"

It's a bit apples and oranges.  While the establishment has generally supported a lone gunman conclusion because that is what the evidence demonstrates, they have not always been transparent with the underlying information.  The FBI, CIA, and many other governmental agencies are secretive by nature and see no advantage in being transparent.  That's why these files have still not been released even after 60 years.  It takes an outsider like Trump to say enough is enough.  Will every hard-core kook conspiracy theorist change their mind when the files are released?  Of course not.  Many of these people are mentally ill and invested in a JFK conspiracy.  It does move the needle, however, with the average person who gives any thought to the case.  I've had random discussions with folks who mostly couldn't care less about the JFK assassination, and many ask why the files haven't been released if there is nothing to hide.  It's a reasonable question.  Now that is done.