In a move that is 25 years in the making (despite what President Trump says), the National Archives released 2,891 documents relating to the Kennedy assassination to the public on Thursday evening. The documents were posted online, in compliance with a 1992 law that required that the documents be made public after 25 years.
However, despite the fact that the law required that all of the files be released (and that it has been 54 years since the event), a chaotic last-minute investigation from intelligence agencies lead the Trump administration to hold back thousands more documents for additional review. The additional files will be made public on April 26, 2018. President Trump said in a memorandum:
“The American public expects — and deserves — its Government to provide as much access as possible to the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records (records) so that the people may finally be fully informed about all aspects of this pivotal event. Therefore, I am ordering today that the veil finally be lifted. At the same time, executive departments and agencies (agencies) have proposed to me that certain information should continue to be redacted because of national security, law enforcement, and foreign affairs concerns. I have no choice —today — but to accept those redactions rather than allow potentially irreversible harm to our Nation’s security.”
While many people on Twitter are leaning into their pet conspiracy theories — as well as crafting new ones to explain the delay — others have used this moment for doing what Twitter does best: make jokes.
Out of the 2,800 JFK, 300 won't be released. Which leads to to believe one thing: there's a pee tape.
— bekka supp (@valhallabckgirl) October 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/analyticalps/status/923681412926115840
Damn. Says here in the #JFKFiles that Mr. Mime is the best Pokemon. wild if true
— The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) October 26, 2017
Sad irony that we're currently living through the biggest American conspiracy of all-time but folks are focused on JFK.#jfkfiles
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) October 26, 2017
JFK
files delayed
what else do i have to say— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) October 26, 2017
Dear God… I can’t believe this is in that new batch of classified files about the JFK assassination. pic.twitter.com/tj5P8PhmHL
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) October 26, 2017
Super excited to let someone else read the JFK Files
— David Dayen (@ddayen) October 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/scottderrickson/status/923700013628137472
I KNEW IT. #JFKFiles #JFK pic.twitter.com/H5ktekUOHK
— it’s frickin bats 🦇 (@TypicalTahdig) October 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/BillDixonish/status/923700194708824066
2,800 JFK files are out…
Where my tin foil hat speed readers at?— Beth (@MrsStinkFingers) October 27, 2017
On some rainy day, in a pleasant, stable, sane future, I'm going to be happy to curl up in my favorite chair and read about JFK. Not today.
— Shelby Edwards (@STEWest) October 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/kaylakatieann/status/923702722834055171
https://twitter.com/Ruben22Real/status/923703617374187520
https://twitter.com/NateLovesZappa/status/923707457670594562
https://twitter.com/RileyScoggins/status/923707765406576641
(Via The New York Times)