Almost 60 years since Senator Robert F Kennedy was murdered, the US government has published more than 10,000 pages related to the investigation. The documents were released after an executive order by then-President Donald Trump, who directed declassification of documents related to significant historical events, such as the deaths of RFK, President John F Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The newly unveiled files include FBI reports, Justice Department documents, witness interviews, autopsy images, and handwritten notes from assassin Sirhan Sirhan. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard confirmed the declassification was the result of coordination with the National Archives and other federal bodies. Almost 60 years since Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s heart-wrenching assassination, the American people will finally get a chance to consider the federal government’s investigation in light of @POTUS leadership and determination for maximum transparency,” Gabbard posted on X.

RFK’s Last Moments

Robert F. Kennedy was shot around midnight on June 5, 1968, as he departed the Ambassador Hotel’s kitchen pantry in Los Angeles after delivering a victory speech over his California primary victory. He was hit repeatedly by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian-Jordanian who employed a.22-caliber revolver. Five other individuals were wounded during the assault.

Sirhan was arrested on the spot and subsequently convicted of first-degree murder. Although initially sentenced to death, his sentence was commuted to life in prison with the chance of parole when California suspended the death penalty briefly in 1972.

The reports outline the chaos of the scene. The June 12 FBI memo lists Ethel Kennedy, RFK’s widow, as saying, “keep your hands off him” to an ambulance attendant. Another witness characterized her as swinging at reporters outside the hospital with rage.

The Obsession of Sirhan

Among the most telling revelations are Sirhan Sirhan’s own writings, which demonstrate an intense preoccupation with assassinating Kennedy. On a blank envelope, he wrote: “RFK must be gotten rid of like his brother was.” Another reads, “My resolve to get rid of RFK is becoming more [and] more of an unshakeable obsession.”

Sirhan Sirhan (R) accused of assassinating Senator Robert F Kennedy, is seen with his attorney Russell E Parsons in Los Angeles in June 1968. Image Credit/AP

FBI evaluations in 1968 address Sirhan’s physical and psychological status, such as a head injury from a horse riding accident in 1966. Family members reported that after the accident, his behavior changed dramatically. Those who knew him provided conflicting descriptions — some referred to him as friendly and generous, while others referred to him as intense, politically motivated, and interested in mysticism.

One of the more unsettling stories in the documents is told by a garbage man, who remembered Sirhan having said he would shoot Kennedy not long after Dr. King’s death. When the employee spoke up in favor of RFK, Sirhan supposedly said, “Well, I don’t agree. I am planning on shooting the son of a bitch.”

Reactions, Conspiracy Theories, and More

The release contains condolence messages by world leaders as well as messages from common people showing grief and disbelief. The death of RFK, similar to JFK, also spawned conspiracy theories: either a second assassin or the involvement of the CIA. Unnamed characters such as a woman dressed in a polka-dot outfit and contradictory witnesses only fueled gossip. The files, however, provide no additional evidence to support these theories.

Robert F Kennedy Jr. hailed the release, saying, “Unveiling the RFK papers is a necessary process toward getting people to believe again in the government of the United States.” He was 14 when his father was murdered and has always wondered about the official finding that Sirhan alone carried out the act. RFK Jr. also met with Sirhan while in prison and defended his 2021 parole attempt, which Governor Gavin Newsom later prevented. Sirhan’s 2023 and 2024 attempts were rejected again.

50,000 Pages Being Prepared For Public Release

As Tulsi Gabbard reports, another 50,000 pages primarily from the CIA and FBI are currently being made ready for public release. Agencies are also digging through storage libraries to find more documents. Although published on the web by the National Archives, some sensitive information such as Social Security numbers are still redacted.

Political scientist Larry Sabato warned against anticipating big revelations. “I hope there’s more information. I’m skeptical that there is, just as I said when the JFK documents came out,” he said in AP.

Robert F. Kennedy, who was a fervent believer in civil rights and anti-poverty programs, bequeathed a strong legacy. His assassination two months following Dr. King’s is one of the most tumultuous periods in American history. As more documents are still to be declassified, both the public and historians could potentially see clearer into the tragedy and its lasting effects.