</s>Monorandum to Mr. Gallagher REB: MURITY or objects causing the damage vare larger than a bullet of 30 caliber size and irregular in size as all of the yarns were broken, not cut. One or more segments of home could not. be eliminated as the cause of the damage. ALLEGATION: The FBI knew there was no mark on the windowsill iron wich Ray was the cause to have fired the rifle. FACT: examination of the bathroom from which the shot was fired revealed that the bathroom window was jammed open to a height of about 3. J. D. Hamboy, Honciecio Bureau, Temphis Police Department, removed the bathroom window was caused to a ... appeared to have a recently made indentation. The FBI Laboratory report of the examination of the windowshields of the FBI dated 4/11/69, stated that the board bears a recent dent which dates 4/1/69; stated by the side of the board hears a recent muscle of a weapon. The dent contains microscopic marks of the type which could be produced by the site of the barrel of the muzzle but insufficient marks for identification was left on the board! To the physical nature of the wood. ALLIGATION: . Golsberg stated that he had asked for the results of any King and was told. Geisberg analyzes of the bullet which killed Dr. such an analysis. Under FOLA, fir. Weibberg did request numerous naturorial partaining to this investigation, including the results of any spectrophic analyses. FACT. the FBI denied this request by letter dated 6/27/75, and based this denial of the fact that James Earl Ray has an appeal pending in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. This denial was reversed by the Deputy Attorney General. In this letter dated 1/1,75/75. Deputy Attorney General Syler modified the denials for material by the 7th and stated, in ozor, defined the dents for material only on the 2nd and stated. of Dr. Sing at the time of his death. The enormous information finished in the Wedsburg concerning the spectroscopic analysis of the ballistic ammo from the letter of the Sputty Attorney General to Weisberg and not from this bureau. ACTION: Home. For information. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The House Select Committee on Assassinations requested access to FBI and Department of Justice files regarding the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Legal Counsel Division sought guidance from the General Investigations Division (GID) on the committee’s authority to access these records, potential impacts on local prosecutions, privacy concerns for informants, third-party clearance requirements, and procedural steps for releasing materials. The Civil Rights Section of the Department of Justice noted that its investigation into Dr. King’s assassination was conducted by the FBI under Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 241 (conspiracy to violate civil rights). James Earl Ray was identified as the suspect, pleaded guilty in 1969, and received a 99-year sentence. The Attorney General directed reviews of MLK-related files in 1975 and 1976, with the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) concluding no evidence the FBI caused King’s death but noting potential efforts to discredit him. The committee’s access request raised questions about balancing transparency with legal rights, informants’ confidentiality, and inter-agency cooperation. Ray’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976 claimed he was “framed” for the crime, citing ongoing investigations into his involvement.  

Key People  
- James Earl Ray: Convicted of Dr. King’s assassination, pleaded guilty in 1969, serving a 99-year sentence.  
- Assistant Attorney General J. Stanley Pottinger: Oversaw review of MLK-related files and recommended further investigation.  
- Michael Shaheen: Headed the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) conducting reviews of FBI records.  
- Mr. Gallagher: Recipient of the memorandum, likely a legal or administrative official.  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee: Site of Dr. King’s assassination on April 4, 1968.  
- Buffalo: Location of the Civil Rights Commission investigation file (case number 44-38861).  
- Canada and London: Mentioned in context of third-party clearance for James Earl Ray’s passport and Mrs. Ray’s capture.  

Key Events  
- April 4, 1968: Dr. King assassinated while on a Memphis motel balcony.  
- October 10, 1969: James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to murder and received a 99-year sentence.  
- December 25, 1975: Attorney General directed review of MLK-related files by the Department of Justice.  
- April 9, 1976: OPR completed a preliminary review of FBI records, finding no evidence of FBI involvement in King’s death.  
- October 9, 1976: James Earl Ray appealed his conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court, claiming he was framed for the crime.  

Key Organizations  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations: Requested access to FBI and DOJ files on JFK and MLK assassinations.  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted civil rights investigation into Dr. King’s assassination under Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 241.  
- Department of Justice Civil Rights Division: Oversaw investigations and reviews of MLK-related files.  
- Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR): Conducted internal review of FBI records related to the assassination.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_001_ser_231_only-part_07_of_12.pdf

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