</s>Pendaflex MADE IN MEXICO FBI-CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER HQ - HEADQUARTERS PART 1 OF 5 OF INSTITUTES ON THE B Class Case / Sub Vol Serial 8 251 ONLY 01970 709 8190551242 RE/MAX/OTK 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail an FBI investigation into allegations that Leon Owen Powell and his brother, Claude Powell, Jr., were approached in 1967–1968 by Ray Godfrey, a friend of Leon Powell, regarding a potential plot to assassinate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both brothers claimed they met with Godfrey at Pete’s Bar (later confirmed as Bill Bailey’s) in Atlanta, where an unidentified individual named Ralph (last name unknown) allegedly offered them $50,000 for the assassination. Discrepancies emerged between their accounts: Leon placed the meeting in late October–early November 1967, while Claude stated it occurred around March 1968. The FBI conducted polygraph examinations of both men in 1976, with inconclusive results for Leon and a "truth-telling" outcome for Claude. Background checks on Godfrey, Powell, and associates found no criminal history related to racial violence or assassination plots. Investigations later corrected that Pete’s Bar was owned by Bill Bailey, not Pete Davis as previously believed. Jackie Powell, wife of Claude, expressed skepticism about the story’s authenticity and suggested it may have been fabricated. The Civil Rights Division reviewed the case, concluding no evidence substantiated the allegations or linked them to James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of King.  

Key People  
- **Leon Owen Powell**: Alleged to have met with Godfrey and Ralph (LNU) at Pete’s Bar in 1967; described as a white male with an arrest record for military violations and child abandonment.  
- **Claude Powell, Jr.**: Brother of Leon; arrested for armed robbery in 1949; claimed he was offered $50,000 to kill King but refused.  
- **Ray Godfrey**: Mutual friend of the Powells; described as a non-violent individual with no criminal history related to racial issues; denied involvement in assassination plots.  
- **Ralph (LNU)**: Unidentified individual who allegedly offered the Powells money for assassinating King; described as a white male, well-dressed, and possibly a lawyer.  
- **Jackie Powell**: Wife of Claude Powell, Jr., expressed skepticism about the story’s authenticity and questioned government involvement.  
- **Pete Davis**: Initially believed to own Pete’s Bar but later disproven; the bar was confirmed to be owned by Bill Bailey.  

Key Locations  
- **Pete’s Bar** (later identified as Bill Bailey’s): Site of the alleged meeting between Powell, Godfrey, and Ralph (LNU) in Atlanta, Georgia.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Central location for interviews, background checks, and bar ownership verification.  
- **Midland, Texas**: Location of polygraph examinations conducted on Claude Powell, Jr., in January 1976.  

Key Events  
- **November 1967–March 1968**: Alleged meeting at Pete’s Bar where the Powells were approached by Godfrey and Ralph (LNU) regarding a potential assassination plot against King. Discrepancies emerged between the brothers’ accounts of timing and details.  
- **Polygraph Examinations**: Conducted on January 25, 1976 (Leon Powell) and January 1, 1976 (Claude Powell, Jr.), with inconclusive results for Leon and "truth-telling" findings for Claude.  
- **Bar Ownership Verification**: Investigation confirmed Pete’s Bar was owned by Bill Bailey, not Pete Davis as previously believed.  
- **Civil Rights Division Review**: Determined no evidence substantiated the allegations or linked them to James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of King.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews, polygraph examinations, and background checks on suspects.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division**: Reviewed case findings and concluded no connection to James Earl Ray.

MLK Declassified Files

190-hq-709_bulky_231_sec_006_ser_231_only-part_01_of_12.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search