Inside the JFK Assassination Files: What Secrets Do They Hold?

More than six decades after President John F. Kennedy’s tragic assassination, the mystery surrounding his death continues to captivate historians, researchers, and conspiracy theorists alike. Now, with the release of approximately 80,000 pages of documents by the U.S. government, new light may be shed on one of the most controversial and debated events in American history.

On Monday, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced at the Kennedy Center that the files would be released, stating they include “a lot of reading” on the events of November 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. These files are part of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection, which includes over six million pages of records, photographs, audio recordings, motion pictures, and artifacts related to the assassination.

But what exactly is in these files? And will they finally put an end to the conspiracy theories that have flourished over the years?

A Breakdown of the JFK Assassination Files

The newly released documents contain a wide range of records collected by multiple U.S. agencies over decades. Here’s what we know about what’s inside:

1. Investigation Documents

One of the biggest sections of the JFK files includes records from multiple official investigations into the assassination. This includes:

• The Warren Commission Report (1964) – The first official U.S. government investigation, which concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing Kennedy.
• The House Select Committee on Assassinations (1979) – A later investigation that suggested a potential conspiracy, contradicting the Warren Commission’s lone gunman theory.
• Independent investigations and analysis conducted over the years.

2. FBI and CIA Files

The release includes a significant number of classified documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). These records are expected to reveal:

• The extent of Oswald’s ties to intelligence agencies.
• The FBI’s surveillance of Oswald before the assassination.
• CIA documents regarding Oswald’s time in the Soviet Union and Cuba.
• Details of covert operations during the Cold War that might have intersected with the Kennedy assassination.

3. Autopsy Reports & Medical Records

Kennedy’s autopsy report has been one of the most controversial aspects of the assassination. The files contain:

• Official autopsy records, including photographs and X-rays.
• Investigation into the direction and impact of the bullets, particularly the debated “magic bullet” theory.
• Testimonies from doctors and medical examiners involved in the examination of Kennedy’s body.

4. Physical Evidence from the Crime Scene

Included in the JFK files are several key pieces of physical evidence, such as:

• The clothing Kennedy was wearing when he was shot.
• The bullet (CE399), known as the magic bullet, which allegedly struck both Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally.
• Details about the rifle Oswald allegedly used, along with forensic analysis.
• Ballistic reports that have been used to either support or challenge the lone gunman theory.

5. Witness Statements & Eyewitness Accounts

The files contain testimonies from witnesses who were in Dealey Plaza at the time of the assassination, including:

• Bystanders who saw Oswald before or after the shooting.
• Accounts of Secret Service agents and police officers at the scene.
• Statements from medical staff at Parkland Hospital, where Kennedy was treated.

6. Government Agency Records & Security Briefings

Beyond the FBI and CIA, other agencies also conducted their own assessments, including:

• The Secret Service, which was responsible for Kennedy’s security that day.
• The Department of State, which monitored Oswald’s international activities.
• The Department of Defense, which examined potential military or foreign involvement.

Will These Files End Conspiracy Theories?

Ever since Kennedy’s assassination, countless theories have emerged, suggesting:

• The involvement of a second shooter.
• A CIA or FBI cover-up.
• A possible Cuban or Soviet connection.
• Organized crime involvement due to Kennedy’s crackdown on the Mafia.

While previous document releases have not provided conclusive proof to support any of these claims, this new batch of 80,000 pages could offer crucial details about Oswald’s connections, the role of intelligence agencies, and gaps in the official narrative.

Who Oversees These Files?

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is responsible for maintaining and gradually declassifying the JFK files. The release of these documents follows Executive Order 14176, signed by Donald Trump on January 23, 2025, which directed the full public release of the assassination records.

Will We Finally Know the Truth?

The JFK assassination remains one of the most scrutinized and controversial events in modern history. While these new documents might provide important insights, the truth may still remain elusive.

For now, the world waits to see if the long-guarded secrets in these pages will finally bring clarity—or just fuel even more speculation about what really happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963.