</s>Memorandum to Mr. Adams Re: INQUIRY RE ACCESS TO FILE MATERIAL ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DETAILS: At approximately 11:45 a.m. on June 21, 1976, Mr. Peter Taft, Assistant Attorney General, Land and Natural Resources Division, called and in the absence of Assistant Director Mintz spoke to Inspector James C. Farrington, Mr ., Taff identified himself as being one of the three members, along with Mr. Mintz, the Special Review Committee which is overseeing the Committee of Notification Program. He advised that he had some questions that could like to discuss with M.H. Which in another unrelated to the Cointeole Notification Program which involved the Martin Luther King documents. Mr. Taft wondered that in connection with the Department inquiry concerning our investigation of Martin Luther king as to make or not it might be beneficial to have our documents on Dr. King made available to lawyers representing the King family. In response to an inquiry as to why he was deserving to do this. Mr. Taff indicated that he felt he would probably assist the Department in their inquiry. Mr. Farrington advised that Taft that he did not think this would be the proper solution since we would be showing them preferential treatment over other requests under the Freedom of Information Act. Mr .- Taft responded by indicating that maybe this would the better course of action since these attorneys are representing the king family's interests. It was then explained to Mr .: Taft we have consistently advised Congressress also in courts in the number of affidavits that we are processing FOIA/Privacy Act requests in a chronological sequence, and that if we now attempted to give the King Family attorneys' preferential treatment we could be subjected to undue criticism. Mr. Taft then inquired as to the length of time before we get to a current FOIA request. It was pointed out to him that there is approximately asix month delay and then the time of processing of course would be dependent on the subject matter. -2- CONTINUED - OVER 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The documents detail internal U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) discussions regarding the release of federal records related to Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, including legal considerations, investigative reviews, and coordination with law enforcement agencies. A 1976 memorandum outlines debates over releasing materials under discretionary authority or via FOIA/Privacy Act compliance, with concerns about potential legal challenges from Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) lawsuits. The DOJ established a task force to review FBI files in Memphis, Milwaukee, and San Francisco, including case file 157-472 involving Klan allegations, to assess criminal or disciplinary actions against Bureau personnel. The Justice Department announced a comprehensive review of all King-related records under Executive Order 14176, pending court orders. Separate entries reference an FBI investigation into Otis H. Moore in 1965, where Moore allegedly discussed an assassination plot for MLK at the S.T. Club in Temple, Texas, though inconsistencies in his statements were noted. The Bureau also mentioned photographs taken by Memphis Police Department (MPD) at the scene of MLK’s death, stored securely. James Earl Ray is referenced as a suspect linked to MLK’s assassination, with ongoing DOJ and FBI inquiries into evidence and related events.  

Key People  
- Otis H. Moore: Army veteran investigated for allegedly discussing an assassination plot against MLK in 1965.  
- Attorney General Edward H. Levi: Oversaw DOJ legal discussions on document releases and FOIA compliance.  
- Assistant Attorney General J. Stanley Pottinger: Involved in reviewing records related to MLK’s assassination.  
- James Earl Ray: Suspect linked to MLK’s assassination; referenced in FBI and DOJ investigations.  
- Les Payne: Journalist requesting information on the investigation.  
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) attorneys: Challenged DOJ handling of King-related documents.  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee: Site of MLK’s assassination and related FBI investigations; home to MPD storing photographs.  
- Temple, Texas: Location of S.T. Club where Moore allegedly discussed an assassination plot.  
- San Francisco, Milwaukee, Kansas City: FBI field offices involved in reviewing King-related files.  
- Washington, D.C.: DOJ headquarters where legal discussions on document releases occurred.  

Key Events  
- Legal disputes over FOIA/Privacy Act compliance for releasing MLK assassination records.  
- SCLC lawsuits challenging the Department’s handling of King-related documents.  
- Establishment of a task force to review FBI files on MLK’s assassination and related security matters.  
- Investigation into the "Invaders" militant group in Memphis, linked to 1968 sanitation worker strikes and violence during MLK’s March 28, 1968, protest.  
- Ongoing DOJ review of all records related to MLK under Executive Order 14176.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Conducted investigations into MLK-related matters and managed file access requests.  
- U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division: Oversaw legal discussions on document releases and FOIA compliance.  
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC): Challenged DOJ handling of King-related documents through lawsuits.  
- Memphis Police Department (MPD): Cooperated with FBI on "Invaders" investigations and stored photographs related to MLK’s assassination.

MLK Declassified Files

44-hq-38861_hs1-233652821_29-01-part_4_of_4.pdf

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