</s>at least three black members of the Memphis Police and Fire Department would have been overlooked. It is also very probable that black citizen "lead" input would have been greater. B. As To The Security Investigation The task force was charged to address itself. particularly to the question of whether the nature of the relationship between the Bureau and Dr. King called for criminal prosecution, disciplinary proceedings, or other appropriate action. Our responses follow. 1. Because the five year statute of limitations has long since we cannot recommend criminal prosecution of any Bureau personnel, past or present, responsible for the possible criminal harassment of Dr.King. (18 U.S.C. 3282). No evidence of a continuing conspiracy was found. 2. The responsibility for initiating and prolonging the security investigation rested on the deceased Director of the Bureauand his immediate lieutenantants, some of whom. are also deceased and the remainder of whom are retired. They are beyond the reach of disciplinary action. The few Bureau personnel who had anything to do with the King security investigation and who are still in active service, did not make command, decisions and merely followed orders. We do not -145- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents detail FBI surveillance and investigative activities related to Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) from 1963 to 1968, including COINTELPRO operations aimed at disrupting civil rights activism. These efforts involved electronic surveillance, data manipulation to discredit MLK, intimidation tactics, and unauthorized sharing of investigative materials. The report criticizes these actions as unethical and recommends sealing or destroying surveillance records, establishing FBI oversight mechanisms, and prohibiting illicit domestic security operations. An autopsy confirms MLK’s death from gunshot wounds to the neck and spinal cord. Financial records of James Earl Ray (JER), a suspect in the assassination, are included, detailing expenditures linked to his movements across cities like Memphis, Chicago, Montreal, and Toronto. The text also references a 1976 task force review of the assassination investigation, involving correspondence with JER and U.S. Attorney General’s office.  

Key People  
- Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK): Subject of FBI surveillance and investigations for alleged communist ties; central figure in civil rights movements.  
- James Earl Ray (JER): Suspect in MLK’s assassination; financial activities documented, including expenditures tied to travel and accommodations.  
- J. Edgar Hoover: Former FBI Director criticized for authoritarian control over Bureau operations and concerns about communist infiltration of civil rights groups.  
- Attorney General (name redacted): Approved electronic surveillance actions against MLK and related organizations.  
- W. C. Sullivan: FBI official involved in drafting memoranda on communist activities.  
- F. J. Baumgartner: Collaborated with Sullivan on intelligence reports regarding the Communist Party’s impact on racial issues.  

Key Locations  
- Memphis, Tennessee: Site of MLK’s assassination and related crime scene details; jurisdiction where JER was indicted in 1968.  
- Chicago, Montreal, Birmingham, Atlanta, and other cities: Locations tied to JER’s expenditures and movements.  
- St. Francis Hotel (Los Angeles), Flamingo Motel, Toronto: Accommodation sites referenced in JER’s financial records.  
- Washington, D.C.: Headquarters for FBI and government agencies; site of internal memos and task force reviews.  
- Shelby County, Tennessee: Jurisdiction where James Earl Ray was indicted in 1968.  

Key Events  
- MLK’s assassination on April 4, 1968, confirmed by autopsy findings.  
- FBI surveillance and COINTELPRO operations targeting MLK from the early 1960s, including efforts to undermine his leadership.  
- Investigation into JER’s financial activities (April 23, 1967–June 2, 1968) linked to potential involvement in the assassination.  
- March on Washington (August 28, 1963): Highlighted as a pivotal event for communist exploitation of racial tensions.  
- 1976 Task Force Review: U.S. Attorney General’s inquiry into MLK’s assassination investigation, involving correspondence with James Earl Ray.  
- FBI surveillance activities monitoring Communist Party USA operations and their alleged influence on African American leaders.  

Key Organizations  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Central to the investigation; criticized for COINTELPRO tactics and lack of oversight.  
- Communist Party, USA: Targeted for alleged efforts to infiltrate civil rights movements and manipulate racial unrest.  
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC): Organization led by MLK, monitored for potential communist influence.  
- National Archives: Proposed repository for sealed FBI surveillance records.  
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: Designated for legislative oversight of FBI activities.

MLK Declassified Files

44-om-310_763633_15-07-part_4_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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