(A)Political - April 19th

Good morning everyone,

Can’t wait to catch everyone up on what has certainly not been a slow news week. Let’s hop in!

Tulsi Gabbard has spearheaded Trump’s directive to release files related to RFK Sr., and the first tranche of documents has just been released. Trump directly states he will “just take a pass” on peace efforts if either Russia or Ukraine fail to agree to ceasefire terms. Residing Fellow Ciaran Brownlee gives a timeline and analysis of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs.

• First Set Of RFK Assassination Records Released

• The Final Ultimatum

• Current Analysis & Timeline of Liberation Day Tariffs

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First Set Of RFK Assassination Records Released

_{By: Atlas}

The Trump administration released more than 10,000 pages of previously classified documents related to the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on Friday, April 18, marking the first significant public disclosure of federal records concerning the killing that changed the course of American history.

The documents, now available through the National Archives website, were declassified under a directive from President Donald Trump as part of his broader effort to increase transparency regarding high-profile assassinations. Unlike the records of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, which were subject to a congressionally mandated release schedule, materials related to RFK's murder had remained largely inaccessible for decades.

"Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government's investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump," said Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who led the release effort through her office.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the slain senator's son, praised the release in a joint statement with Gabbard. "Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government," Kennedy said. "I commend President Trump for his courage and his commitment to transparency."

Contents Reveal Investigation Details

The newly released files contain a wealth of information regarding the government's investigation into the June 5, 1968, shooting at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Among the most striking materials are handwritten notes attributed to convicted assassin Sirhan Sirhan, including one that states "RFK must be disposed of like his brother was," referencing the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Other documents include FBI interviews with witnesses who were present at the Ambassador Hotel, autopsy photographs from coroner Thomas Noguchi's examination, and records of the bureau's efforts to determine whether a conspiracy existed. Investigators pursued various leads, including reports that Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa, who had clashed with Kennedy during his tenure as attorney general, had put a "contract" on Kennedy's life. The FBI found no evidence linking Hoffa to the assassination.

The files reveal that then-Attorney General Ramsey Clark offered FBI assistance to Los Angeles police within hours of the shooting, not out of concern for local investigators' competence, but to demonstrate the federal government's serious commitment to the case.

Many of the released documents consist of correspondence between citizens and Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon expressing opinions about the case, along with official responses. State Department communications monitoring reactions from Jordan—Sirhan's country of birth—are also included.

Questions Linger Despite Official Narrative

While Sirhan was convicted of Kennedy's murder in 1969, questions have persisted about the official account. The autopsy found that Kennedy was shot from behind at close range, yet witnesses reported seeing Sirhan in front of the senator. Some analysts have suggested that more shots were fired than Sirhan's eight-bullet revolver could hold.

Kennedy Jr. has previously expressed doubt about whether Sirhan fired the fatal shot. In 2018, he told The Washington Post he was "disturbed that the wrong person might have been convicted of killing my father" after reviewing evidence and speaking with witnesses. He met with Sirhan in prison in 2017.

"I wouldn't expect there would be a smoking gun in any of this," Kennedy Jr. told reporters on Friday. He acknowledged that those involved would not have left documentary evidence of any conspiracy, noting that "with my dad, it's all circumstantial and speculation."

More Files to Come

The release represents only the first installment of RFK assassination records. Gabbard revealed that an additional 50,000 pages of materials have been located in FBI and CIA warehouses that were never previously transferred to the National Archives. These documents are currently under review and will be released in future batches.

"We're obviously not stopping here," Gabbard said during a Fox News appearance, adding that she had "over 100 people at National Archives" scanning through documents in anticipation of additional releases.

The files' disclosure follows Trump's January 23 executive order calling for declassification of records related to the assassinations of both Kennedy brothers and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. In March, the administration released approximately 80,000 pages pertaining to President Kennedy's assassination. Documents concerning King's murder have not yet been made public.

Historical Context and Legacy

Robert Kennedy's assassination came at a pivotal moment in American history. The 42-year-old senator had just won the California Democratic presidential primary and was widely viewed as on track to secure his party's nomination. His death, occurring just two months after King's assassination and five years after his brother's murder, shattered hopes for what many saw as a potential restoration of the Kennedy legacy in the White House.

Kennedy remains an iconic figure in American politics, remembered for his passionate advocacy for civil rights, commitment to fighting poverty, and evolution into a vocal critic of the Vietnam War. His death is often regarded as a critical turning point that altered the trajectory of American politics and society.

The digitized records are now available to researchers and the public at archives.gov/rfk, allowing Americans to examine firsthand the government's investigation into one of the most consequential political assassinations in the nation's history.

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