</s>4-596 (Rev. 5-9-88) 44- U.S. DEPARTMENT.OF.JUSTICE Serials 592-5988 HG-38861 FEDERAL BUREAU OF ENTIRE FILE REVIEW INVESTIGATION FOR HISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION HEADQUARTERS REC. 84 BAS INFORMATION CONTANTARMS BARRIER IS UNGLASSISTED -40-1-01-31-1.1-0-2-0 FORF GLASSICATION DOCUMENT ELASETO IC. CONTACT ED. EXT. 576. DO NOT DESTROY NATIONAL ARCHIVES HISTORICA VALUE Transfer - Call 3421. X Transfer - CALL 3421 - Use Care in Handling this file MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILE 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14178

Summary  
The documents detail FBI and state-level investigations into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focusing on conspiracy theories involving James Earl Ray, Robert Livingston (attorney for Ray), and alleged intermediaries. Livingston claims Ray was a "fall guy" set up by a group of professionals to carry out the murder, with Ray receiving $100,000 of an alleged $250,000 payoff. Livingston asserts that the actual killers were white males, including a professional triggerman known to the FBI, and that the motive was financial gain for "the good of the American nations." The FBI sought information on Raymond Curtis, a convicted murderer who allegedly escaped from prison in Georgia in 1972 and may have been involved. Livingston also references a television interview where he discusses Ray's legal battle, polygraph tests, and potential immunity for informants. The documents include administrative details about document transmission, case numbers, and release under Executive Order 14176. A separate summary notes fragmented conversations involving an individual referred to as "Bill," who claims involvement in labor organizing activities in Memphis during the period surrounding MLK’s assassination. Bill alleges that the Teamsters Union conspired to assassinate MLK, stating that the union paid someone to kill him and that the labor movement, particularly through the Teamsters, was responsible for his death. The text contains inaudible sections, personal conversations, and fragmented statements about life experiences, with some references to FBI involvement. Another summary describes declassified FBI records from 1974 involving James Earl Ray, Robert Livingston, and Memphis officials, including claims by Livingston that Ray was set up as a fall guy in the assassination. It references newspaper clippings from Memphis newspapers discussing the case, including claims that Ray purchased a rifle in 1968 and was involved in a "gun-running venture." The document mentions Ray’s guilty plea to murder in 1968, his incarceration at Tennessee State Prison, and legal appeals by Livingston and others seeking new trials or immunity for those involved. It also notes a planned 1975 biography of Ray by George McMillan, which frames Ray as the sole perpetrator but excludes conspiracy theories.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Alleged assassin of Dr. King; incarcerated in Tennessee State Prison; pleaded guilty to murder in 1968.  
- **Robert Livingston**: Attorney for Ray; claimed Ray was a patsy in a conspiracy involving two other men.  
- **Hugh Stanton Jr.**: Memphis District Attorney; involved in discussions with Livingston about the case.  
- **Cliff Andrews**: Alleged co-conspirator; described as having a strong French accent and ties to Memphis businesses.  
- **George McMillan**: Author of a 1975 biography of Ray, *James Earl Ray: An American Life*.  
- **Raymond Curtis**: Escaped convict from Georgia; mentioned as a potential suspect linked to the murder.  
- **Jerry Worth**: Described as the president of a union organization (possibly the International Union) and a key figure in labor operations during the period surrounding MLK’s assassination.  
- **Bill**: Claims involvement in labor organizing in Memphis, Tennessee, and asserts responsibility for coordinating efforts related to MLK's assassination.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Central location for the assassination, investigation, and legal proceedings.  
- **Tennessee State Prison**: Where Ray was incarcerated.  
- **Nashville, Tennessee**: Site of a television news interview with Livingston.  
- **Georgia (Redsville, Ware County)**: Curtis’s prison and escape location; referenced in FBI inquiries.  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: Mentioned as a location where MLK traveled prior to his assassination, seeking assurances about avoiding violence.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis.  
- **May 25, 1974**: FBI documents reference claims by Livingston about a conspiracy involving Ray and two other men.  
- **Conspiracy theory**: Livingston claims a group of professionals orchestrated MLK’s assassination, with Ray as an unwitting participant.  
- **Legal battle**: Ray’s evidentiary hearing in Memphis to challenge his conviction.  
- **FBI investigation**: Search for Raymond Curtis and verification of his criminal history; inquiries into potential connections to the murder.  
- **Polygraph test**: Livingston states Ray would take a polygraph to confirm he did not pull the trigger.  
- **Intermediary contacts**: Livingston’s meetings with individuals claiming knowledge of the plot, including a man identified as Clifford Andrews.  
- **Alleged conspiracy by the Teamsters Union**: Bill alleges that the union paid someone to kill MLK and that the labor movement was responsible for his death.  
- **Claims about MLK’s flight to Memphis**: Discussions about MLK being flown to Memphis under assurances of no violence, with a subsequent conspiracy to kill him before his arrival.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into the assassination and related conspiracies.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Involved in legal proceedings and appeals.  
- **Shelby County, Tennessee**: Jurisdiction for Ray’s trial and incarceration.  
- **Teamsters Union**: Alleged to have conspired to assassinate MLK and paid someone to carry out the act.  
- **American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)**: Mentioned as an organization Bill was associated with in labor organizing efforts.  
- **International Union**: Described as an entity linked to Jerry Worth and involved in labor operations during the period surrounding MLK’s assassination.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_28-01-part_1_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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