The U.S. government has just released more than 60,000 pages of documents related to the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. This is the second major release of records related to the case and was ordered by President Donald Trump earlier this year.
The move has been supported by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the senator’s son, who believes the man convicted for the killing might be innocent.
What’s in the Newly Released Documents?
The records were gathered from different U.S. government storage facilities where they had been kept for decades. Until now, they had never been digitized or available to the public. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), led by Tulsi Gabbard, handled the digitization and posted the files on the National Archives website.
According to ODNI, the documents include:
- Internal FBI memos detailing how the investigation was carried out
- New leads discussed by various FBI offices
- Recordings of interviews with Sirhan Sirhan and eyewitnesses
- Other previously unpublished materials related to the killing
Is There Anything New?
Although these files add to the public archive, it’s unclear if they offer any new revelations about the assassination. Many files related to the investigation — especially those handled by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) — have already been public since the 1980s through California’s state archives.
Some documents released last month included:
- Handwritten notes by Sirhan Sirhan stating, “RFK must be disposed of like his brother was”
- FBI reports, autopsy photos, crime scene evidence, and eyewitness interviews
- Mentions of popular conspiracy theories, like a woman in a polka-dot dress or someone shouting “we shot him”
Most of these details, however, were already known to researchers and journalists.
Who Killed Robert F. Kennedy?
Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a strong contender in the 1968 Democratic presidential race, was fatally shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The main suspect, Sirhan Sirhan, was arrested at the scene and later convicted.
Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant, was 24 years old at the time. Over the years, his explanations for the killing have changed. Sometimes, he admitted guilt, blaming RFK’s support for Israel. At other times, he claimed to be innocent or said he couldn’t remember the event.
Sirhan has been in California state prison for decades. His 2021 parole request was supported by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who even visited him in prison. But California Governor Gavin Newsom rejected the parole decision.
Why Are There Doubts About the Case?
Some people, including RFK Jr., believe Sirhan didn’t act alone, or that he may not have fired the fatal shot. They point to conflicting witness statements, ballistic questions, and theories about multiple shooters. However, many others — including law enforcement — believe Sirhan acted alone.
Even within the Kennedy family, there’s division. While RFK Jr. supports a re-investigation and believes in Sirhan’s innocence, other family members strongly oppose his release and stand by the original court findings.