On April 18, 2025, the U.S. National Archives released approximately 10,000 pages of documents related to the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. This action follows Executive Order 14176, signed by President Donald Trump in January 2025, aiming to enhance transparency regarding the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy, his brother President John F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
The newly released files include handwritten notes by the convicted assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, expressing his intent to kill Kennedy and referencing the earlier assassination of President John F. Kennedy. One note stated, “RFK must be disposed of like his brother was,” written on an envelope linked to a federal official. Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian at the time, cited Kennedy’s support for Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War as his motive.
Additional documents encompass interviews with Sirhan’s acquaintances, providing insights into his character and potential motivations. Some described him as friendly and generous, while others noted his impressionability and strong political convictions. Notably, a sanitation worker recounted Sirhan expressing his plan to assassinate Kennedy shortly after the death of Martin Luther King Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the senator’s son and current U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, praised the declassification as a step toward restoring public trust in the government. He has previously questioned the official account of his father’s assassination, suggesting the possibility of multiple assailants.
The release of these documents is part of a broader initiative to make public records related to significant historical events. The National Archives has also released files concerning the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., with the aim of providing a more comprehensive understanding of these pivotal moments in American history.
While the newly available documents offer deeper insights into the circumstances surrounding Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination, they do not conclusively support longstanding conspiracy theories. Nonetheless, the declassification represents a significant move toward transparency and may prompt renewed discussions and analyses of the events of 1968.
