Trump Administration Releases MLK Jr. FBI Files Despite Family’s Objections

The Trump administration has released more than 240,000 pages of FBI documents related to Martin Luther King Jr., despite strong opposition from his family and the civil rights group he once led. The records, which had been sealed since 1977, include surveillance details and FBI leads from the time surrounding King’s assassination in 1968.

This release is raising questions—not just about what’s in the files—but also about timing, privacy, and political motivations.

What’s in the Newly Released MLK FBI Files?

On Monday, the U.S. government published a massive collection of FBI documents tied to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., including details from the years before and after his assassination. These documents had been sealed by court order for nearly five decades and are now publicly available online for the first time.

According to officials, the records include:

• FBI tips following King’s assassination
• Surveillance notes and leads
• Information on King’s anti-war and anti-poverty work
• Files digitized for public access

It’s still unclear whether the documents contain new revelations. But for researchers, historians, and journalists, this release is a significant addition to the historical record.

King’s Children Respond with Caution and Concern

Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, the two surviving children of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King, expressed deep concern about the public release.

In a joint statement, they said their father’s death has been a “captivating public curiosity” for decades but urged the public to approach the files with “empathy, restraint, and respect.”

“As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal grief,” they wrote. “We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy and respect for our family’s continuing grief.”

They also reiterated their belief that James Earl Ray, the man convicted of assassinating King, may not have acted alone—or at all.

A Divided Family and Political Reactions

The release of the files was part of a broader effort by former President Donald Trump to declassify historical records, including those tied to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.

Tulsi Gabbard, then Director of National Intelligence, called the MLK file release “unprecedented” and praised Trump for promoting government transparency.

Not everyone agrees. The King Center, founded by King’s widow and now led by Bernice King, criticized the timing, calling it “ill-timed” and “unfortunate” amid other pressing social issues.

Alveda King, MLK’s niece and a vocal conservative, thanked Trump for the release—highlighting political divisions even within the King family.

Critics Say It’s a Political Distraction

While the Trump administration presented the release as a step toward transparency, critics say the timing may have been politically motivated.

Rev. Al Sharpton called it “a desperate attempt to distract” from Trump’s controversies—especially growing criticism over how his administration handled documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Shortly after the MLK files were released, Bernice King posted a photo of her father on Instagram with the caption: “Now, do the Epstein files.”

Others echoed this sentiment, suggesting the release was meant to shift public focus away from scandals involving Trump’s first presidency.

FBI Surveillance and Hoover’s Legacy

The documents highlight a darker chapter in U.S. history: the FBI’s secret surveillance and harassment of civil rights leaders, including King himself.

During the 1960s, then–FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover targeted King, whom he viewed as a threat to the U.S. government.

The FBI:

• Wiretapped King’s phone lines
• Bugged hotel rooms
• Used informants to collect personal and political information

“He was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign,” the King children wrote.

They emphasized that while they support transparency, they are strongly against any effort to use the files to harm their father’s legacy or the Civil Rights Movement.

The Assassination: Questions Still Remain

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while supporting striking sanitation workers. He was 39 years old.

James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the murder but later recanted, claiming he was set up. He died in prison in 1998.

The King family has long questioned the official story. In 1999, they filed a civil lawsuit, and a jury found that King’s death resulted from a conspiracy involving unknown parties.

In their latest statement, Martin III and Bernice King said they will continue to review the newly released files to see if they offer any new insights.

Why This Matters

The release of these FBI files brings fresh attention to one of the most painful chapters in American history.

For historians, the documents offer new material to study King’s life and legacy. For the King family and civil rights activists, it reopens old wounds—and possibly, old questions about who was really behind the assassination.

As debates continue over government transparency, political motivations, and civil rights history, this moment serves as a reminder: the past is never really past. And for many, justice and clarity are still a work in progress.