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Summary  
The documents detail FBI investigations into allegations that Leon Owen Powell and his brother, Claude Powell, Jr., were approached in 1967 to assassinate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). The inquiry involved interviews with the Powells, Arnold Ray Godfrey, and others, including polygraph examinations of both Powell brothers. Key elements include:  
- **Leon Powell** claimed he was approached by Godfrey at Pete’s Bar in Atlanta in late October/early November 1967 by an individual named Ralph (described as a "lawyer type") offering $50,000 to kill MLK.  
- **Claude Powell** stated he met Ralph at Pete’s Bar approximately three weeks before MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968, and was offered money for the task.  
- The FBI verified that Pete Davis (bar owner) did not own the bar during the alleged meeting period and found no evidence confirming Ralph’s existence or involvement.  
- A 1976 investigation by the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (CRD) included efforts to locate Claude Powell, who was reportedly incarcerated with MLK at Reidsville, GA, during a demonstration arrest in 1976. Subsequent attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.  
- The CRD reviewed whether to present the case to a Federal Grand Jury but found no conclusive link between the Powells and James Earl Ray (convicted of MLK’s assassination).  
- A FOIA request by Harold Weisberg sought disclosure of ballistic test results, crime scene photographs, and evidence related to suspects. The DOJ released some documents, including bullet comparisons and sketches of Ray, while restricting others due to legal or administrative reasons.  

Key People  
- **Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK)**: Central figure in the assassination investigation.  
- **Leon Owen Powell**: Alleged to have been approached by Godfrey and Ralph for the assassination plot.  
- **Claude Powell, Jr.**: Brother of Leon; claimed he met Ralph at Pete’s Bar and received a payment offer.  
- **Arnold Ray Godfrey**: Mutual friend of the Powells who allegedly introduced them to Ralph.  
- **Ralph (INDU)**: Unidentified individual described as offering money for MLK’s assassination.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted of MLK’s murder in 1968; no direct connection to the Powell allegations was found.  
- **Harold Weisberg**: FOIA requester seeking information on MLK’s assassination.  
- **Robert A. Murphy**: Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division, reviewed case for grand jury consideration.  

Key Locations  
- **Pete’s Bar, Atlanta**: Alleged meeting location between the Powells and Ralph.  
- **Reidsville, GA**: Site of MLK’s incarceration during a demonstration arrest in 1976.  
- **Memphis Field Office (FBI)**: Involved in investigations related to Godfrey and MLK’s assassination.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: DOJ headquarters for administrative and legal proceedings.  

Key Events  
- **November 1967**: Alleged initial contact between the Powells and Godfrey at Pete’s Bar.  
- **March 5–16, 1976**: FBI and DOJ investigations into Powell allegations, including polygraph exams and bar ownership verification.  
- **April 4, 1968**: Assassination of MLK, central to the investigation.  
- **January 13–16, 1976**: Interviews and polygraph examination of Arnold Ray Godfrey, who denied involvement.  
- **April 15, 1975**: FOIA request by Harold Weisberg for assassination-related documents; DOJ released some materials while restricting others.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted interviews, polygraph exams, and background checks.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division (CRD)**: Reviewed case for grand jury consideration and coordinated with federal agencies.  
- **Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Section (FBI)**: Handled requests for assassination-related documents.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_28-06-part_6_of_7.pdf

Document Summary

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