The Unsealed Secrets: A Deep Dive into the CIA’s Role in the JFK Assassination

In the labyrinth of conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, one phrase has echoed through decades: “I’m just a patsy!” This was shouted by Lee Harvey Oswald as he was escorted through Dallas police headquarters on the night of November 22, 1963. Two days later, Oswald was assassinated by Jack Ruby, sealing his fate and leaving the question of who he was a “patsy” for open to endless speculation.

The official narrative, as concluded by the Warren Commission in 1964, was that Oswald acted alone. Yet, this explanation has never quelled the public’s skepticism, particularly given Oswald’s lack of clear motive and Ruby’s ties to organized crime. Polls indicate that a significant majority of Americans—65% according to a recent survey—doubt this lone gunman theory.

The spotlight of suspicion has often shone on the CIA, an agency tasked with national security, including the protection of the President. JFK’s own threats to dismantle the CIA following the Bay of Pigs fiasco have fueled many theories suggesting a motive for the agency’s involvement in his death.

Despite the Warren Commission’s clearance of the CIA, the refusal by successive administrations to fully disclose all related documents has continued to stoke conspiracy flames. This year, Donald Trump, in a campaign promise to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), committed to releasing the remaining classified files, which are held in the U.S. National Archives. These documents, still partially redacted, are seen by many as the potential “smoking gun” in the assassination narrative.

RFK Jr., now a key figure in Trump’s administration as health secretary, has long been vocal about his belief in a CIA conspiracy. He argues that there is “overwhelming evidence” of CIA involvement, pointing to a supposed 60-year cover-up. His father, Robert F. Kennedy, was reportedly skeptical of the CIA’s innocence from the outset, with RFK Jr. claiming his father’s first call after the assassination was to question the CIA’s involvement directly.

The CIA’s resistance to declassifying these documents has been attributed to national security and privacy concerns, but many see this as a sign of a deeper cover-up. The 1992 JFK Records Act mandated the release of all related documents by 2017, yet delays have persisted, often linked to the controversy stirred by films like Oliver Stone’s “JFK,” which directly implicated the CIA.

Trump’s pledge could be fraught with complications. The CIA’s historical surveillance of Oswald, detailed in a 181-page dossier, suggests they knew much about him, including his defection to the Soviet Union and his affiliations with pro-Castro groups. Critics like Jefferson Morley argue that this surveillance, if not indicative of conspiracy, at least points to negligence or, more alarmingly, manipulation by elements within the CIA or Pentagon.

The documents might also reveal sensitive operations in Mexico, where Oswald sought travel visas. This could embarrass both U.S. and Mexican governments due to past covert operations involving political surveillance, potentially impacting current diplomatic relations, especially concerning border issues.

Even if all documents were released, would it end the conspiracy theories? Experts like Gerald Posner doubt it, suggesting that believers would simply claim the real documents were destroyed or hidden. Trump’s promise thus places him at a crossroads, balancing political alliances, historical accountability, and the ongoing narrative of a deep state conspiracy.

The question remains: Will Trump’s decision to potentially release these files expose more than he bargained for, or will it be another chapter in the long, shadowy saga of the JFK assassination?