Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets Chairwoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) opened a hearing focused on the release of federal records related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The session, titled “Declassified MLK Records: What They Reveal and Why They Matter,” addressed calls for greater transparency from government agencies regarding these documents.
In her prepared remarks, Luna highlighted the significance of Dr. King’s assassination in 1968 and its impact on the nation and the civil rights movement. She noted longstanding concerns about how federal authorities handled both their investigation into King’s death and their actions leading up to it.
“Over time, it has become increasingly clear that our federal government was not honest about its investigation of this tragedy or its abuses leading up to it,” Luna said. She described efforts by the FBI during the 1950s and 60s to monitor Dr. King, including wiretapping his phones, bugging hotel rooms, and employing informants.
Luna stated that the task force convened to consider how declassifying these records could help restore public confidence in government institutions and prevent future abuses. She referenced an executive order from President Trump that directed agencies to release files concerning Dr. King as a positive development toward increased openness.
“It is the job of the Task Force to ensure that federal agencies comply with the Executive Order,” Luna added.
She also pointed out that some records remain unreleased, including those covered by a 1977 settlement which requires the FBI to disclose certain materials in 2027. According to Luna, many wiretaps used against Dr. King were illegally obtained with intent to damage his reputation.
“I want to make it clear that we are not here to speculate without facts,” she said. “We are here to seek the truth.”
Luna emphasized that declassification should be viewed as a matter of justice and transparency rather than politics, aiming for full disclosure about one of America’s most significant historical events.
“It is long past time to confront our history honestly so we can begin rebuilding the public’s faith in the institutions meant to serve them,” she concluded.
