Leaked audio tapes, JFK assassination confession

In January 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14176, mandating the declassification of all remaining documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This order requires the Director of National Intelligence to develop a plan for releasing JFK assassination records within 15 days, and plans for RFK and MLK Jr. records within 45 days. 

This move has reignited public interest and debate over these historical events. Notably, a newly released audio tape features Clifton Carter, an associate of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, allegedly admitting that Johnson was behind the assassination. 

While some anticipate that the declassified JFK files might not contain groundbreaking revelations, the release of documents related to Dr. King’s assassination could shed light on the FBI’s controversial activities during that era. The FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, conducted extensive surveillance and attempts to discredit Dr. King, which may be detailed in the forthcoming records. 

Reactions to the declassification order have been mixed. Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s grandson, criticized President Trump for using the assassination files as a “political prop,” suggesting that such actions reframe tragic events unnecessarily and disrespect the late president’s legacy. 

As the declassification process unfolds, historians, researchers, and the public await the potential insights these documents and recordings may provide into these pivotal moments in American history.