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Summary  
The documents detail multiple aspects of the U.S. government’s investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on FBI activities, legal proceedings, and administrative reviews. Key elements include James Earl Ray’s 1968 conviction for murder, his sentencing to nine years in prison, and ongoing judicial deliberations regarding conspiracy charges. The FBI’s role is highlighted through its involvement in the investigation, including coordination with field offices to submit records from the "MURKIN" file (King’s assassination case) for review by the Department of Justice’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). A task force was established to assess whether the FBI’s investigation was conducted honestly, if bureau personnel were involved in the assassination, and if new evidence existed. Administrative procedures outlined include document submission requirements, cost reporting, and handling of sensitive materials such as social security numbers. The review process spanned multiple cities, with field offices across the U.S. submitting files for analysis. Additionally, the FBI documented resource allocation for inquiries related to both MLK’s assassination and President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, noting no unusual costs incurred during these periods.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray (convicted of murder in King’s assassination)  
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (victim)  
- W. Preston Battle (judge presiding over Ray’s trial)  
- Raymond (possibly a witness or associate)  
- Charles L. Caphart (FBI special agent reporting on investigative costs)  
- James O. Ingram (Deputy Assistant Director, FBI)  
- Attorney General (ordered DOJ review of FBI actions)  
- Assistant Attorney General J. Stanley Pottinger (directed Civil Rights Division involvement)  
- Task Force members (authorized access to files and communications)  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations (involved in inquiries)  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee (site of King’s assassination and Ray’s trial)  
- FBI headquarters (FBHQ)  
- El Paso, Texas (FBI SAC location handling document submissions)  
- Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Omaha, Nebraska; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Kansas City, Missouri; Washington, D.C.  

Key Events  
- Trial and conviction of James Earl Ray for the murder of Dr. King in Memphis, Tennessee  
- Sentencing of Ray to nine years in prison  
- Establishment of a Department of Justice task force to review FBI’s investigation into MLK’s assassination  
- Request for field offices to submit copies of "MURKIN" file serials by August 9, 1976  
- Task force travel to multiple cities to review files and gather evidence  
- Coordination of document submissions for OPR review, including exclusion of pre-1960 materials for certain cases  
- Reporting of cost data and manpower usage for administrative tasks between October 1975 and September 1977  
- Documentation of FBI activities addressing congressional inquiries and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Department of Justice (DOJ)  
- Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR)  
- Civil Rights Division (involved in reviewing investigative procedures)  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations  
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)  
- Communist Party USA (CPUSA)  
- Community Influence in Racial Matters (CIRM)

MLK Declassified Files

157-ep-186_hs1-852950407_180-02-part_2_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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