About 10,000 pages of records pertaining to the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy were made public on Friday, revealing handwritten notes from his assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, which indicate a chilling obsession with murdering the Democratic presidential candidate. The notes expressed a belief that "RFK must be disposed of," referencing the assassination of Kennedy’s brother, President John F. Kennedy, who was killed in 1963. The records are part of a broader release of historical investigation documents mandated by President Donald Trump.
Robert F. Kennedy was shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles shortly after delivering a victory speech following the California primary. Sirhan Sirhan, who was convicted of first-degree murder, is currently serving a life sentence in prison. The files also included images of Sirhan's handwritten notes, one of which was written on an envelope addressed to the IRS, indicating a direct connection to his murderous intent.
The National Archives and Records Administration published 229 files online, many of which were previously disclosed, while others were made available for the first time as they had not been digitized until now. This recent release follows the unveiling of unredacted documents concerning the assassination of President John F. Kennedy last month, which elaborated on Cold War-era covert operations but did not support prominent conspiracy theories regarding JFK’s assassination.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of the late senator, praised the release of these documents, stating that "lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government." The files included various interviews with individuals who knew Sirhan in different capacities, revealing contrasting views on his personality. Some described him as kind and friendly, while others depicted him as impressionable and deeply troubled by his political beliefs.
Notably, Sirhan allegedly confided to his garbage collector that he planned to kill Kennedy not long after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968. The conversation highlighted Sirhan’s intense political emotions, showcasing a stark divide between his views and those of individuals supporting Kennedy’s candidacy. Larry Sabato, the director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, expressed skepticism about the potential revelations in the recently released documents but emphasized the importance of a careful review for any hints or anecdotes that might provide more context to the assassination.
There were still some redactions in the material made public, including the names and birth dates of certain individuals. The Trump administration faced criticism last month for personal information inadvertently included during the release of JFK assassination records. Trump has been a proponent of transparency regarding high-profile investigations, although he has expressed distrust toward government intelligence agencies. His administration's release of these long-hidden documents has opened the door for public scrutiny of organizations like the CIA and FBI.
In 2021, a parole board deemed Sirhan suitable for release based on claims from his attorneys that he posed no danger to society. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom rejected this decision in 2022, and a subsequent panel in 2023 also denied parole, citing a lack of insight from Sirhan into his actions at the time of the assassination.
Robert F. Kennedy continues to resonate as an iconic figure among American liberals, revered for his commitment to human rights and social justice. His assassination is often viewed as a pivotal event that contributed to the United States' political shift toward a more conservative landscape. Initially a controversial figure, Kennedy faced criticism for being late in opposing the Vietnam War and for launching his presidential campaign only after President Johnson's vulnerabilities were laid bare in the New Hampshire primary.
Having served as U.S. Attorney General under his brother, JFK, Robert F. Kennedy gained a Senate seat from New York in 1964 and was seen as the heir to the Kennedy political legacy.
