More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, certain parts of the U.S. government seem to still be concealing the full truth. The media’s relentless pursuit of that elusive “smoking gun” has somewhat overshadowed a more troubling reality: a consistent pattern of evidence suggesting a cover-up, and maybe even some level of government complicity in the assassination itself.
Back in 1992, Congress mandated that all records related to JFK’s assassination be made public by 2017. Leaders from both political parties have called for adherence to this order. After six decades, both Congress and former President Trump are growing increasingly frustrated with federal agencies that continue to flout the law, destroy pertinent evidence, and discredit the memory of a slain president.
This situation reflects a calculated deceit that continues to erode public trust. Oversight Chairman Jim Comer (R-Ky.) has voiced his frustration over the defiance exhibited by intelligence agencies. The newly formed House Select Committee on Declassification of Federal Secrets aims to tackle this 60-year obstruction. President Trump’s executive order led to some significant advancements, but clearly, there’s still a lot left to address.
For years, efforts to unveil assassination records have faced resistance from intelligence agencies. However, there’s been a glimmer of hope lately. In the last half year alone, more documents have been released than in the previous two decades combined. Thanks to the House Select Committee and Trump’s initiatives, thousands of previously redacted pages are now available online without any edits.
Now, it’s important to note that no documents have emerged that amount to “conclusive evidence.” Expecting such definitive proof is, I think, a bit naive. Researchers and investigators recognize that the more concerning aspect of the newly disclosed documents is a recurring pattern of facts. They affirm what has long been suspected: the connections between the CIA and Lee Harvey Oswald were much more substantial than previously acknowledged by the agency.
A particularly troubling detail involves George Joannides, a CIA officer tasked with psychological warfare who covertly funded a Cuban exile group, DRE, in 1963. This group had meetings with Oswald just months before Kennedy’s assassination. Years later, when Congress formed the House Select Committee on Assassinations to revisit the case, Joannides was appointed as a liaison. Disturbingly, this was done without disclosing his past involvement. Further investigation has revealed that Joannides was less about collaboration and more about obstructing the truth.
He withheld crucial information that linked Oswald to CIA activities. To add insult to injury, it has come to light that the CIA even awarded Joannides a Medal of Honor partly for misleading Congress.
In addition, documents released due to President Trump’s January 2025 order revealed that William K. Harvey, the head of the CIA’s assassination program, had obtained fake credentials from the FAA in August 1963. This allowed him to travel undercover into the U.S. while he was supposed to be stationed in Rome. I actually requested to see Harvey’s travel records from CIA Director John Ratcliffe back in 1963. The latest findings emphasize the necessity of that request, which Ratcliffe has promised to handle.
Some people suggest that after all this time, the particulars are no longer significant. I would argue they’re mistaken. Concealment breeds distrust. When a government hides the truth, it fosters conspiracy theories and deepens skepticism. Evidence now suggests that the Warren Commission had already drawn its conclusions before their inquiry even commenced. Americans deserve transparency regarding historical events, especially one as traumatic as this.
Kennedy’s assassination wasn’t just another crime; it represented a politically motivated murder that altered the course of our nation. If intelligence agencies are actively covering up their involvement, whether directly or indirectly, then such efforts have distorted American democracy for over six decades. The focus shouldn’t solely be on “Who killed President Kennedy?” but rather on “Why has our government made such efforts to conceal the entire story from its citizens?”
While the recent document releases signify progress, several important records still remain hidden.
The following records are particularly crucial for review:
- CIA Miami station files: After the assassination, the CIA’s Miami station, JMWAVE, conducted an investigation into whether the Cuban exiles under its care were involved in JFK’s murder. These records, labeled SITREPS, have not yet been disclosed. Testimony indicates that senior CIA officials doubted the Warren Commission’s conclusion of a lone assassin. The station’s operations director, David Morales, reportedly bragged about having dealt with Kennedy, saying, “We took care of that son of a bitch.” Congress and the public should have access to JMWAVE’s inquiry into the assassination.
- William Harvey’s travel records: As the mastermind behind plans to assassinate Fidel Castro, Harvey held a strong disdain for the Kennedy family. Following reprimands from the White House for reckless operations during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he was reassigned to Rome. However, colleagues noted sightings of him on flights to Dallas leading up to November 22, 1963. Yet, the CIA still refuses to divulge his travel documents. If he wasn’t in Dallas, I want documented proof of that, which we know the CIA’s FOIA office possesses.
- Carlos Marcello’s FBI tapes: Marcello, a New Orleans mob boss, harbored an open animosity towards the Kennedys and had allegedly predicted the assassination. In prison during the 1980s, he even claimed to an informant that he orchestrated the event. However, the FBI continues to block the release of surveillance tapes that might support his confession. These tapes hold immense historical significance, and the public deserves access to them.
- Details on Secret Service file destruction: In 1995, just three years after the JFK Records Act was unanimously passed, the Secret Service destroyed documents related to the assassination, despite clear requests to preserve all files. The agency assigned to protect the president illegally shredded its records, and to this day, no one has faced consequences. Who gave that order, and why?
- Transcripts of interviews with Jacqueline and Robert Kennedy: A sealed transcript of an interview conducted with Jackie and Robert Kennedy by historian William Manchester in the mid-1960s is currently stored at Wesleyan University. Originally meant to be a reference for the Kennedy family, it remains unavailable to the public until 2039.
I know this is a painful topic for the Kennedy family, having endured the losses of both President Kennedy in 1963 and Senator Robert Kennedy in 1968. Yet, Jackie was a key eyewitness to her husband’s assassination. It’s known that then-Attorney General Robert Kennedy never accepted the single gunman theory. The authentic opinions of Jackie and RFK carry significant historical weight. Keeping these views inaccessible until most living Americans have passed serves no purpose other than unnecessary secrecy.
Our task force is committed to honoring our fallen leaders, and history should not be suppressed.
Every one of these records has the potential to unravel what truly happened in Dallas. Yet, they remain undisclosed even after all these years.
This isn’t merely a partisan matter. Truth and transparency are values central to American democracy. The JFK Records Act of 1992 was passed without objection, and Trump’s order to enforce compliance wasn’t a partisan act; it recognized that lapses in secrecy have persisted for far too long.
I’ve witnessed the significant resistance within the federal bureaucracy. Agencies often delay, redact, and obstruct. They aim to wear down Congress, distract the press, and let the public’s interest fade. That cannot happen. As the chair of the House Select Committee on Declassification of Federal Secrets, I’ve witnessed courageous leadership in action. CIA Director Ratcliffe’s handling of the Joannides file showed a commitment to following the president’s orders, regardless of internal opposition.
Congress needs to act on the findings from our committee. I urge both Republican and Democratic members to demand the full release of remaining JFK records and push for the declassification of all pertinent CIA and FBI documents still being withheld. We should conduct public hearings, issue subpoenas, and even consider new laws to ensure full compliance if necessary.
If agencies continue to disregard the law, they should anticipate consequences, including budgetary impacts. Each year, these agencies hinder access to evidence, fueling skepticism and undermining public faith.
Sixty-two years later, we have enough information to assert with certainty that the government misled the public and concealed the truth, beginning with the unfounded narrative that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone detached from any connections to the intelligence community. It has long been evident that the conclusions of the Warren Report were predetermined prior to the investigation.
This document represents a key element of the cover-up and remains a source of shame for our nation. Accountability lies with both Republican and Democratic members of the committee, their staff, and President Lyndon Johnson. It’s alarming that a supposedly free press has participated in suppressing criticism of the Warren Commission’s findings.
The era of unconditionally accepting the Warren Report is behind us. The American public deserves to uncover the truth now, not in 2039.
The assassination of John F. Kennedy stands as one of the most significant tragedies in American history. The subsequent cover-up and secrecy are perhaps even more disheartening. It’s high time for Congress to fulfill its duty of ensuring complete transparency.
