As the 119th Congress kicked into action, Arizona Congressman David Schweikert introduced legislation that will open up the remaining files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Schweikert’s Justice for Kennedy Act, directs the heads of certain departments and agencies of the Federal Government to publicly disclose all assassination records and information relevant to the tragic murder of President John F. Kennedy 61 years ago.
It’s estimated that anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 records have yet to be fully released, with 515 documents being withheld from the public completely, according to the National Archives.
In an interview with Fox News, Rep. Schweikert explained the reason he believes the remaining files have been hidden from the American people for so long is due to “control and vanity.”
“Freedom of information is more important than vanity. The only way we can have a functioning republic is if we have access to information, and sometimes, that includes the potentially uncomfortable truth,” said Schweikert. “That’s why I introduced the Justice for Kennedy Act, requiring all assassination records be unclassified and unredacted. The moment we begin to treat our country like adults is when they will start to trust in American institutions once again.”
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.
Schweikert’s bill directs the National Archives and Records Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State to publicly disclose in unclassified and unredacted form any assassination record and information in their control or possession relevant to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
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.
