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

Summary: The documents detail James Earl Ray's 1968 conviction for the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., including his guilty plea in 1969 under pressure, waiver of trial rights, and subsequent legal challenges. Ray contested his conviction through appeals, alleging coercion by his attorney Percy Foreman and the prosecution, as well as procedural misconduct during his trial. He claimed that information he provided to Foreman about potential suspects, including telephone numbers and addresses linked to Louisiana, was used against him without proper investigation. Ray also filed a civil lawsuit against TIME Inc., George McMillan, and others for defamation, alleging fabricated claims in published articles falsely accusing him of plotting MLK's assassination. Legal proceedings included evidentiary hearings, judicial rulings, and appeals to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, with references to cases such as *Ray v. Rose* (1974). Ray detailed his prison experiences, including solitary confinement and alleged harassment by officials, and accused journalists like McMillan of relying on unverified sources or fabricated information. The documents include court records from Shelby County, Tennessee, transcripts of plea negotiations, and claims of collusion between media outlets and legal authorities to obstruct due process.  

Key People:  
- James Earl Ray (convicted for MLK’s assassination; plaintiff in defamation lawsuits)  
- Percy Foreman (Ray’s attorney at trial; accused of coercion)  
- George McMillan (journalist and defendant in defamation claims)  
- William Henry Hall, Gerald Frank, W. Henry Halle, Brenda Pellicciotti, Judge McGrae, Robert Hill, William L. Barry, Tennessee Attorney General  
- Robert M. McRae (judge presiding over evidentiary hearings)  
- James F. Walker (Justice Department attorney seeking interview with Ray)  

Key Locations:  
- Shelby County, Tennessee (location of MLK’s assassination and trial proceedings)  
- Jefferson City, Missouri (Ray’s incarceration during trial)  
- Nashville, Tennessee (prison administration and legal proceedings)  
- St. Louis, Missouri (reference to Ray’s brother John Ray’s arrest)  
- Memphis, Tennessee; London, England (locations mentioned in libel claims)  

Key Events:  
- 1968: James Earl Ray indicted for MLK’s assassination; waived trial rights and accepted guilty plea.  
- 1969: Conviction upheld after coerced guilty plea; Ray began prison sentence.  
- 1974–1976: Evidentiary hearings and appeals challenging conviction validity, including *Ray v. Rose* (U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals).  
- 1976: Civil lawsuit filed by Ray against TIME Inc., McMillan, and others for defamation and civil rights violations.  
- Allegations of judicial bias, procedural misconduct, and collusion between media and legal authorities to suppress due process.  
- Claims that journalists like McMillan published defamatory content based on unverified or fabricated sources.  

Key Organizations:  
- U.S. Department of Justice (involved in initial investigation and legal proceedings)  
- TIME Inc. (publisher defendant in defamation claims)  
- Tennessee Attorney General’s office (referenced in court records and libel allegations)  
- Shelby County Criminal Court (jurisdiction for trial and conviction)  
- U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (jurisdiction for appeals related to Ray’s conviction)

MLK Declassified Files

80-ph-1591_sec_000_ser_138-part_5_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search