The recent declassification of JFK assassination documents has stirred new controversy concerning the CIA's past actions.
According to the New York Post, the revelations show that leading CIA figures allegedly misled investigators about their prior knowledge of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.
Last month, President Donald Trump authorized the release of long-classified documents of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This release has unveiled previously undisclosed information about the involvement of CIA officials before and after the tragic event of 1963.
Independent journalist and JFK records expert, Jefferson Morley, presented these startling new findings before the House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets. His testimony, given on April 1, 2025, highlighted discrepancies in the statements made by top CIA officials to the Warren Commission, the body initially charged with investigating the assassination.
According to the released files, three CIA officials—James Jesus Angleton, Richard Helms, and George Joannides—were particularly adept at concealing the extent of the agency's interactions with Oswald. For instance, Angleton was responsible for overseeing the interception of Oswald's letters as early as November 1959, raising questions about the CIA's claims of minimal prior knowledge concerning Oswald's activities.
During a Warren Commission session in May 1964, Richard Helms testified that the CIA's knowledge of Oswald before Kennedy's assassination was "probably minimal." This statement has now come under scrutiny with the new documents suggesting a deeper awareness and monitoring of Oswald's movements and contacts.
George Joannides, another CIA official, had specifically denied any knowledge of CIA-funded operations that might have been connected to anti-Castro Cuban students who implicated Oswald after Kennedy’s assassination. This denial is now contested by the evidence presented in the newly declassified documents.
Adding to the discussion, filmmaker Oliver Stone, known for his provocative work on American political history, testified alongside Morley. Stone criticized the original investigation by the Warren Commission, which he argued left many questions unanswered, directly suggesting possible CIA involvement or negligence in the handling of Oswald before the assassination.
Gerald Posner, an author and expert on JFK's assassination, while acknowledging CIA deception, cautioned against jumping to conclusions about direct agency involvement in Kennedy's death. On social media, Posner pointed out the complexities surrounding Oswald, suggesting that the assassin might have seen the killing as a personal opportunity for notoriety, contradicting theories of a larger conspiracy.
During the hearing, a minor gaffe occurred when Rep. Lauren Boebert mistakenly addressed Oliver Stone as Roger Stone. Jefferson Morley promptly corrected her, highlighting Roger Stone’s different theories about President Johnson's involvement in the assassination.
Both Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Rep. Robert Garcia voiced strong opinions on the importance of these disclosures for historical accuracy and governmental transparency. Luna criticized the Warren Commission for pushing a potentially incomplete narrative, while Garcia emphasized the need for honesty and respect for citizens in disclosing historical truths.
As these debates continue, the newly released documents offer a richer, albeit more complex, picture of the events leading up to and following the assassination of President Kennedy. They not only reopen discussions about possible motivations and involvement of various entities but also reflect on how governmental agencies manage sensitive information.
The disclosure has undoubtedly sparked a renewed public and scholarly interest in one of the most iconic and tragic events in American history, leading to calls for further investigation and greater openness from all government quarters.
