</s>104-10337-100001 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 1 Central Intelligence Agency Wolgden D.C. 2065 April 1972 The Honorable John Conyers, Jr. Chairman Committee on Government Operations House of Representatives Washington, D. C. 20515 Dear Mr. Chairman: The Director has asked me to respond to your letter of April 6, 1992 having certain information regarding CIA holdings of records related to the assassination of of records holding of records relating to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, of relating to the assassination of the President John f. Kennedy. although many of these records were originated by the FBI or by investigating the assassination and the Congress. We believe that a sinister portion of the records could be released if H.J. Resolution454 were enacted into law. I should also point out that the Central Intelligence Agency is currently embarking on its own review of assassination records. I would expect that this review will result in the public release of a significant body of information. To help the committee understand the nature and number of CIA records pertaining to the assessment, I am enclosing the answers to the specific questions you raised in your letter. Sincerely, -97- Stanley M. Moskowitz Director of Congressional Affairs Enclosure

Summary  
The document outlines government records and investigations related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) and its findings. It notes that the HSCA concluded the assassination likely involved a conspiracy, though this was identified as a secondary focus within broader declassification efforts. Materials referenced include records on the Black Panthers, civil rights movements, and FBI/CIA files related to Dr. King’s activities. The CIA confirmed it retained approximately 300,000 pages of records, including materials on Lee Harvey Oswald, FBI reports, and some documents referencing HSCA investigations into MLK’s assassination. These records were part of broader declassification efforts under the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act (1992), which aimed to balance transparency with national security exemptions. The text also highlights challenges in releasing sensitive information, including privacy concerns, classification standards, and interagency coordination.  

Key People  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (subject of HSCA investigation)  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) members (implied through legislative context)  
- J. Edgar Hoover (FBI Director who suppressed MLK assassination requests)  
- James Earl Ray (suspected assassin of MLK; mentioned in broader assassination investigations)  
- Regis T. Blahut (CIA liaison officer accused of stealing JFK assassination evidence from a congressional safe)  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C. (central hub for federal agencies and investigative committees)  
- New Orleans (location of the 1966–1969 investigation into Clay Shaw’s alleged role in MLK’s assassination)  
- FBI/CIA headquarters (sites of record retention and classification decisions)  

Key Events  
- HSCA investigation into Dr. King’s assassination, concluding it likely involved a conspiracy  
- FOIA litigation and appeals over withheld FBI and CIA records on MLK’s death  
- Legislative debates over declassification standards under the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act (1992)  
- CIA security breach involving Regis T. Blahut accessing sensitive JFK evidence stored in a congressional safe  

Key Organizations  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB)  
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)  
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Summary:  
The text outlines the activities of the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) and its role in declassifying and releasing government documents related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. It highlights the ARRB’s collaboration with federal agencies such as the FBI and CIA, including the review of "Core and Related Files" and the "Oswald 201 File." The document notes the release of over 3.7 million pages of records, the acquisition of Clay Shaw’s personal papers, and challenges in accessing certain materials, such as a blacked-out section of a 1962 document referencing Lee Harvey Oswald’s interest in Switzerland. It also references ongoing efforts to obtain sensitive documents from Swiss authorities and the legal framework for releasing classified information by 2017 unless national security concerns persist. The text further details congressional hearings on record release processes, discussions about the Zapruder film as critical evidence, and procedural delays caused by agency reluctance to disclose information.  

Key People:  
- David Marvell (Executive Director of the ARRB)  
- Steven Tilley (Chief, Access and Freedom of Information Staff, National Archives and Records Administration)  
- Clay Shaw (individual prosecuted in the New Orleans trial related to JFK assassination)  
- Edgar Hoover (FBI director referenced in historical documents)  
- Mr. Tunheim (testifier discussing record release processes)  
- Rep. Barrett, Rep. Hastert, Rep. Latourette (congressional members questioning the review board’s progress)  
- Mr. Holland (historian and expert on assassination investigations)  
- Otto Eisenschmidt (mentioned in context of historical conspiracy theories)  

Key Locations:  
- Washington, D.C. (National Archives and Records Administration; location of congressional hearings)  
- Dallas, Texas (site of JFK assassination)  
- Switzerland (referenced in context of Oswald’s potential interest)  
- Cuba (referenced in Operation Mongoose, a Cold War-era CIA operation unrelated to JFK assassination)  

Key Events:  
- Creation of the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) in 1992 under Public Law 102-526  
- Public hearings conducted by the House Select Committee on Assassinations (1976–1979), resulting in a final report and 12 volumes of evidence  
- Release of over 3.7 million pages of JFK assassination records by the ARRB  
- Acquisition and release of Clay Shaw’s personal papers, including his diary from 1967  
- Efforts to obtain sensitive documents from Swiss authorities regarding Lee Harvey Oswald  
- Congressional hearing on the JFK Records Review Board’s progress, addressing challenges in accessing records (e.g., Zapruder film)  
- Legal framework for releasing classified information by 2017 unless national security concerns persist  

Key Organizations:  
- Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB)  
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)  
- U.S. Congress (specifically the House Judiciary Committee)

MLK Declassified Files

00566807_cia_matters_congresscor_104-10337-10001.pdf

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