WASHINGTON, D.C. — Original sponsors oftheJustice for Kennedy (JFK) Act, Congressmen David Schweikert [AZ-01], Tim Burchett [TN-02], and Steve Cohen [TN-09], released the following statements in response to the Trump Administration’s release of over 1,100 individual PDF files of the JFK assassination documents today:

“It’s been 61 years since the tragic murder of President John F. Kennedy. A truly functioning republic ensures Americans have access to information, and this moment symbolizes the long-awaited restoration of the people’s trust in the federal government,” said Congressman Schweikert. “I applaud the Trump Administration for following suit with our Justice for Kennedy Act and requiring all assassination records be unclassified and unredacted.“ 

“I am happy that after decades of questions from the public and government cover-ups that the American people finally may have answers to the JFK assassination. President Trump is once again showing his commitment to having the most transparent administration this country has ever seen,” said Congressman Burchett.

“It’s too soon to know whether there’s much in the documents released today, but it is a good sign that some progress toward the goal of full disclosure is under way,” said Congressman Cohen. “The assassinations of the 1960s need to be understood in their full historical context and the documents being released may help us get there.”

“Today’s release needs to include removing the many unnecessary redactions in the JFK files current held at the National Archives. I appreciate Congressman Schweikert’s years of work pushing Administrations of both parties to provide more government transparency on the Assassination of President Kennedy, especially from the CIA,” said Jeff Morley, a former Washington Post reporter and Co-founder & Editor of JFK Facts. 

Background:

• The Justice for Kennedy (JFK) Act was released back in January of this year, directing the heads of certain departments and agencies of the Federal Government to publicly disclose all assassination records and information relevant to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 
• Before today’s release, it was estimated that anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 records were yet to be fully released, with 515 documents being withheld from the public completely, according to the National Archives. 
• In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration.
• The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president.
• The Department of Justice must petition any court in the United States or in a foreign country to publicly disclose in such form any assassination record and information relevant to the assassination of President Kennedy that is held under seal of the court or under the injunction of secrecy of a grand jury.  

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Congressman David Schweikert is serving his eighth term in the United States Congress. He holds a seat on the Ways and Means Committee and is the current Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee. He is also the Chairman of the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, Chairman of the Valley Fever Task Force, and is the Republican Co-Chair of the Blockchain Caucus, Telehealth Caucus, Singapore Caucus, and the Caucus on Access to Capital and Credit.