The Release Of Kennedy Assassination Files Brought Out The Amateur Sleuths On Twitter


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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.

https://twitter.com/analyticalps/status/923681412926115840

https://twitter.com/scottderrickson/status/923700013628137472

https://twitter.com/BillDixonish/status/923700194708824066

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)