</s>1-0-1-2-0a-1 4-1854 P.O. 248 DHRY. 43-5-0O) M.S. Department I (MATERIAL MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM OR ADDED TO THIS FILD Do Not Destroy, Historical Value, National Archives FEDERAL BUREAU ENTIRE FILE REVIEWED of OR HISTORICAL DECLASSIFICATION INVESTIGATION ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED Bureaua File Number HEREIN IS UNCLA DATE /43.37 Volume Number: 76.6.6 DO NOT DESTROY PRESERVE FU ... See alao Non. COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS Ruc 6-6-11 Do Not Destroy, Historical Value, Natural Archives C-9/7/8-7/6-7.6 e 9/7-68 Johlson 4/8/68 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O ., 14176

Summary  
The documents detail the U.S. government’s investigation into the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and related legal proceedings involving James Earl Ray, who was convicted of the crime. Key themes include Ray’s plea deal, appeals alleging conspiracy, FBI involvement, public skepticism about his guilt, and debates over evidence suppression. The text also references broader historical context, such as the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) and its 1976 investigation into both JFK’s assassination (1963) and MLK’s murder. Fragmented or unclear elements include allegations of government obstruction, discrepancies in evidence, and OCR errors affecting readability.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Convicted of assassinating Dr. King in 1968; later claimed he acted alone but faced appeals alleging a larger conspiracy.  
- **Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.**: Assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.  
- **J. Edgar Hoover**: Former FBI director cited in allegations of obstructing justice.  
- **House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)**: Established in 1975 to re-examine JFK and MLK assassinations; referenced in discussions about document access and agency cooperation.  
- **Lee Harvey Oswald**: Assumed central role in JFK assassination investigations, though not directly tied to MLK’s case.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of Dr. King’s assassination (April 4, 1968).  
- **New York City**: Ray’s arrest and legal proceedings.  
- **Heathrow Airport**: Ray’s arrest in 1970 after fleeing to the UK.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: HSCA headquarters and federal government offices involved in record management.  

Key Events  
- **Conviction of James Earl Ray (1968)**: Ray pleaded guilty to MLK’s assassination but claimed he acted alone; sentenced to 99 years in prison.  
- **Legal Appeals (1976)**: Ray’s attorneys sought a new trial, citing suppressed evidence and government interference, though courts rejected these claims.  
- **HSCA Investigation (1975–1978)**: Examined JFK and MLK assassinations, with focus on FBI/CIA records and potential conspiracies.  
- **Public and Media Scrutiny**: Outlets like the *Miami Herald* and CBS documentaries fueled debates about cover-ups or collusion in the MLK case.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central to both MLK and JFK investigations; referenced for alleged evidence suppression and obstruction.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Oversaw legal proceedings and record management policies, including a 1976 directive to provide materials on assassination cases.  
- **House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)**: Established to re-examine JFK and MLK assassinations; faced challenges with agency cooperation and document access.  
- **Warren Commission**: Investigated JFK’s assassination (1963), referenced in discussions about historical context and record management.  

Notes on Ambiguities  
- The text contains fragmented or unclear references, such as "bullet-proof photographs," "Pottigham Act," and OCR errors affecting readability.  
- Some claims about conspiracies or government overreach lack concrete evidence, with courts consistently rejecting conspiracy allegations in Ray’s case.  
- References to JFK assassination materials suggest the documents may span multiple historical cases, though MLK remains central to this summary.

MLK Declassified Files

44-mm-1854_v6-part_1_of_3.pdf

Document Summary

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