In a move that’s sure to set the conspiracy mill churning, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order mandating the declassification of all remaining documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The directive also extends to files concerning the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The President has given intelligence officials a tight deadline: present a plan within 15 days for the full release of JFK records, and within 45 days for the RFK and MLK files.

Now, for those of us who have been around the block a few times, this isn’t our first rodeo with promised transparency. Remember, the JFK Records Act of 1992 required all assassination-related records to be made public by 2017, unless a presidential waiver was issued. Both Trump and Biden administrations previously delayed full disclosure, citing national security concerns.

So, what’s different this time? Well, according to the White House, the President believes that ‘the release of these records is long overdue’ and that ‘the victims’ families and the American people deserve the truth.’ Noble sentiments, indeed. But let’s not forget, this is the same government that has been sitting on these files for over six decades.

Historians and scholars are cautiously optimistic. They don’t expect any bombshell revelations that will rewrite history, but they do hope that the full disclosure will put to rest some of the more persistent conspiracy theories that have festered due to decades of secrecy. Burt Griffin, a former Warren Commission assistant counsel, noted that while most substantive information has already been revealed, the remaining documents might provide additional context about the investigative processes of the era.

However, not everyone is convinced. Skeptics argue that the timing of this executive order is more about political theater than a genuine commitment to transparency. After all, releasing these files now provides a convenient distraction from other pressing issues and offers a chance to score points with a public that has grown increasingly distrustful of government institutions.

And let’s not overlook the potential for embarrassment. The FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, conducted extensive surveillance on Martin Luther King Jr., including attempts to discredit him through disinformation and harassment. The release of these files could shed more light on these unsavory tactics, further tarnishing the bureau’s already checkered history.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the President’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services and son of the slain senator, has expressed support for the declassification, seeking greater government transparency. It’s a personal matter for him, and one can only hope that the release of these documents provides some measure of closure for the families involved.

In the end, while the promise of ‘everything will be revealed’ is tantalizing, it’s wise to temper expectations. The labyrinthine corridors of government secrecy are not easily navigated, and the truth, as they say, is often stranger than fiction. As the deadline approaches, we’ll see if this latest push for transparency is a genuine effort to illuminate the past or just another chapter in a long history of obfuscation.