</s>EXHIBIT 14 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

The documents detail legal proceedings and allegations surrounding James Earl Ray’s conviction for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Ray was indicted in 1968, pleaded guilty in 1969, and served a sentence of ninety-nine years in prison. The U.S. Attorney General’s task force reviewed the case in 1976, examining claims that Ray’s conviction was coerced by his attorney, Percy Foreman, and that media entities like TIME magazine published defamatory articles falsely implicating him in MLK’s murder. Ray contested his guilty plea, alleging judicial misconduct, legal malpractice, and conspiracy to suppress evidence. The documents reference court proceedings involving Judge W. Preston Battle, who oversaw Ray’s 1976 guilty plea, and include motions related to waiving trial rights and accepting a plea deal. Legal battles extended to allegations of libel against Time Inc., George McMillan, William Bradford Huto, Gerold Frank, and others for publishing false claims about Ray’s involvement in the assassination. The case also involves the Tennessee Department of Justice, Shelby County Criminal Court, and potential appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.  

Key People  
- **James Earl Ray**: Indicted for MLK’s assassination in 1968; pleaded guilty in 1969 but contested his conviction, later waiving trial rights in 1976.  
- **Percy Foreman**: Ray’s attorney accused of coercing him into a plea deal and collaborating with journalists.  
- **George McMillan**: TIME magazine contributor alleged to have fabricated claims about Ray’s involvement in MLK’s murder.  
- **William Bradford Huto**: Named as a defendant in libel claims against Ray.  
- **Gerold Frank**: Defendant in libel allegations related to false information about Ray.  
- **W. Henry Hale**: Defendant in libel claims for publishing defamatory content.  
- **Judge W. Preston Battle**: Presided over Ray’s 1976 guilty plea proceedings.  
- **J.A. Blackwell**: Clerk of the Criminal Courts of Shelby County, Tennessee.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of court proceedings and legal filings related to Ray’s case.  
- **Shelby County, Tennessee**: County where MLK was assassinated and where Ray’s criminal court case was filed.  
- **Nashville, Tennessee**: Mentioned in context of legal documentation and correctional facilities.  

Key Events  
- **1968 Indictment**: James Earl Ray charged with MLK’s assassination.  
- **1969 Guilty Plea**: Ray pleaded guilty under pressure, later contesting the conviction.  
- **1976 Guilty Plea Proceedings**: Ray waived his right to trial and accepted a plea deal for first-degree murder, resulting in a ninety-nine-year sentence.  
- **Legal Battles**: Ray filed lawsuits against officials, journalists, and publishers for defamation, judicial misconduct, and obstruction of justice.  
- **Court Motions**: Included petitions for waiving trial by jury and accepting a guilty plea, with judicial inquiries into Ray’s understanding of his rights.  

Key Organizations  
- **U.S. Department of Justice Task Force**: Reviewed the Fair Investigation into MLK’s assassination in 1976.  
- **Time Inc.**: Accused of publishing libelous content about Ray’s involvement in MLK’s murder.  
- **Tennessee Department of Justice**: Involved in legal proceedings against Ray and accused of misconduct.  
- **Shelby County Criminal Court**: Handled the trial and plea proceedings for Ray’s conviction.  
- **U.S. Supreme Court**: Mentioned as a potential appellate venue for appeals related to Ray’s case.

MLK Declassified Files

62-hq-115768_sec_000_ser_262-part_5_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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