Where Are the Smoking Guns? The Curious Case of the JFK Files and the Great American Nothing Burger
80,000 Pages, Zero Plot Twists—Thanks for the Paper Cuts
On March 18, 2025, with presidential flair and a 14176-stamped executive order, the National Archives released what was touted as the motherlode of suppressed government secrets: nearly 80,000 pages of JFK assassination files. For decades, these documents were guarded like Fort Knox with a hangover. Researchers, historians, and conspiracy theorists alike waited with bated breath—finally, some answers! Maybe a CIA memo, a Mob invoice, or at the very least, a Cold War napkin with a cryptic doodle saying "Oswald wasn’t alone."
Instead? Crickets.
Not literal crickets (though that might have been more intriguing), but the sound of mass disappointment. Buried within the stacks were memos about foreign communist rags blaming "the Agency" for the murder (not new), travel logs, bureaucratic shoulder shrugs, and redactions so aggressive they resembled blackout poetry.
So what gives? Why sit on tens of thousands of pages for over 60 years just to release the archival equivalent of reheated cafeteria meatloaf?
Let me paint the scene for you: The federal government, known for its swift transparency (pause for laughter), withholds documents citing "national security concerns." Fair enough—for a few years. But after six decades, if you’re still clutching redacted telexes like your future depends on it, the public expects some bang for its taxpayer-funded buck, pal.
Instead, we got a bureaucratic yawn.
Some argue this proves the lone gunman theory. Others say it proves the cover-up is just deeper than anyone thought. I say it proves we need to question not just what is withheld, but why even what is released feels like a deliberate misdirection. A kind of truth-shell game: shuffle enough irrelevant pages in, and even the sharpest eyes go blind.
Case in point: one now-public document notes that an Italian communist newspaper accused "the Agency" of orchestrating the assassination. Rather than being scandalous, it’s logged without rebuttal, shelved, and noted like a lunch receipt. No further action. No context. No smoking gun. Just a curious shrug from the deep state.
Meanwhile, the Mary Ferrell Foundation is still begging for IRS files and additional FBI documents that are still hidden behind the red-tape Iron Curtain (*1). Why? Maybe they contain nothing. Or maybe they contain the something.
And that’s the crux of it: the longer the government keeps secrets, the more we expect a revelation proportionate to the wait. You can’t promise a filet mignon and serve up mystery meat.
The Canary Wire isn’t in the business of tinfoil or torches. But it is in the business of pattern recognition. And this pattern—delay, redact, release, disappoint—is starting to look a lot like strategic fog.
I’m not saying the CIA did it. If someone did, this is exactly how you’d keep people from ever knowing.
Stay sharp.
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Notes:
(*1) The Mary Ferrell Foundation (MFF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and expanding access to historical records related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy (JFK), Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as broader U.S. intelligence and political history from the 1960s and 1970s. The MFF maintains the largest online searchable archive of JFK assassination records, with over 2 million pages of declassified government documents, and has been a leading advocate for transparency in these records. Their efforts to access still-withheld IRS files and FBI documents, which they describe as being hidden behind a bureaucratic "red-tape Iron Curtain," stem from their commitment to enforcing the 1992 JFK Records Act and uncovering the full truth about the JFK assassination. Below is a detailed overview of their campaign, based on available information, including their legal battles and the specific documents they are seeking.
Background on the MFF’s Mission and the JFK Records Act
The 1992 JFK Records Act, passed in response to public outcry following Oliver Stone’s film JFK, mandated the creation of the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) to declassify and release all JFK assassination-related records by October 26, 2017, unless overridden by the President. The ARRB declassified millions of pages from 1994 to 1998, but some documents remain withheld or redacted due to exemptions under Sections 10 and 11 of the Act (covering IRS records, Social Security Administration records, court-sealed documents, and those under restrictive “deeds of gift”) or due to agency claims of national security or privacy concerns. The MFF, founded to digitize and analyze these records, has been at the forefront of tracking releases, identifying gaps, and advocating for full disclosure. They view the continued withholding of documents as a bureaucratic barrier—often likened to an “Iron Curtain” of red tape—that obstructs public access to historical truth.
The MFF’s Push for IRS Files and FBI Documents
The MFF has specifically targeted IRS and FBI records that remain withheld or heavily redacted, arguing that these documents could shed light on critical aspects of the JFK assassination investigation, including Lee Harvey Oswald’s financial history, potential intelligence connections, and the FBI’s handling of the case. Here’s a breakdown of their efforts and the documents they are seeking:
1. IRS Files
Why They Matter: IRS records, particularly tax returns, are exempt from disclosure under Section 10 of the JFK Records Act due to privacy laws. However, the MFF argues that tax returns for key figures like Lee Harvey Oswald, his associates (e.g., Ruth and Michael Paine), and organizations linked to the assassination (e.g., the William B. Reilly Coffee Company, where Oswald worked in New Orleans) could reveal financial ties or activities relevant to the case. For example, Oswald’s 1959 tax return or the Paines’ 1962 return might clarify their economic status or connections to intelligence activities.
MFF’s Efforts: The MFF has highlighted that approximately 520 documents, many IRS-related, remain withheld under Sections 10 and 11. In their 2016 presentation by President Rex Bradford, they identified specific IRS records among the 3,571 documents then withheld in full, noting their potential significance despite being marked as “Not Believed Relevant” (NBR) by agencies. The MFF contends that even non-tax-return IRS documents, like memos, should be redacted rather than fully withheld, as seen in their analysis of Warren Commission-related IRS records.
Challenges: IRS privacy laws are stringent, and the National Archives (NARA) has cited legal restrictions as a barrier. The MFF’s lawsuit (discussed below) seeks to compel NARA to pursue these records or justify their withholding, arguing that the public interest outweighs outdated privacy concerns for records over 60 years old.
2. FBI Documents
Why They Matter: The FBI conducted the initial investigation into the JFK assassination and served as the primary investigative arm for the Warren Commission. Many FBI files remain redacted or withheld, particularly those related to Oswald’s pre-assassination activities (e.g., his Mexico City trip), FBI surveillance, and their response to later investigations like the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA). The MFF has pointed to specific examples, such as a 379-page FBI document from agent John Fain on Oswald’s defection (marked “Not Assassination Related” despite its relevance) and a 161-page New York Bureau file on FBI practices during the Church Committee investigations.
MFF’s Efforts: The MFF’s analysis of 2017–2018 releases showed that 1,151 of 3,598 withheld records, including many FBI documents, were either not released online, missing, or still redacted. They’ve identified 2,400 newly discovered FBI files from a 2023 audit, which remain unreleased, as well as redacted files like an FBI memo on alleged Dealey Plaza gunman Herminio Diaz. The MFF’s JFK Database Explorer tool has been instrumental in tracking these records, revealing discrepancies in NARA’s “central directory” (e.g., 678 of 13,251 documents from the 2022 release were unlisted, including 26 FBI records).
Challenges: FBI redactions often cite “sources and methods” or cooperation with foreign governments (e.g., Mexico City surveillance). The MFF argues that these excuses are overused, especially for decades-old records. Former ARRB Chair Judge John Tunheim has supported their call for full release, noting that national security justifications are increasingly untenable.
3. The “Red-Tape Iron Curtain”
The MFF uses the term “red-tape Iron Curtain” to describe the bureaucratic and legal barriers—such as agency resistance, incomplete metadata, and arbitrary withholding criteria—that obscure these records. For instance, the Biden administration’s 2021–2022 “Transparency Plans” introduced new evaluation criteria, which the MFF claims violate the JFK Records Act’s mandate for full disclosure. NARA’s failure to digitize all records or maintain an accurate central directory further complicates access, as does the lack of optical character recognition (OCR) in recent releases, making documents harder to search (a point raised by Jefferson Morley on X in March 2025).
The MFF’s frustration is compounded by NARA’s acknowledgment that some records are missing or unaccounted for, and by agency practices like marking relevant documents as NBR to downplay their significance.
The MFF’s Legal Battle
On October 19, 2022, the MFF, along with researchers Josiah Thompson and Gary Aguilar, filed a lawsuit against President Biden and NARA in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 22-cv-06176-RS), seeking to enforce the JFK Records Act. The lawsuit alleges that the government failed to release all records by the 2017 deadline and that Biden’s memoranda (2021–2022) unlawfully postponed releases through unauthorized “Transparency Plans.” Key points from the lawsuit and its developments include:
Objectives: The MFF seeks a court order to compel NARA to collect all assassination records, release withheld documents (including IRS and FBI files), and set aside Biden’s memoranda as arbitrary and capricious. They also request injunctive relief to prevent further delays.
Progress and Setbacks:
October 2022–April 2023: The MFF filed amended complaints, adding details on the Transparency Plans’ violations. The Department of Justice (DOJ) moved to dismiss, arguing that the MFF lacked standing and that NARA had no duty to collect records post-ARRB.
January 2024: Judge Richard Seeborg granted in part and denied in part the DOJ’s motion to dismiss, ruling that the MFF’s claims about Biden’s memoranda were insufficient but allowing other claims to proceed. He denied injunctive relief, finding no irreparable harm or likelihood of success on some merits.
March–November 2024: The MFF appealed to the Ninth Circuit, arguing that Seeborg’s denial of injunctive relief was erroneous. On October 18, 2024, the DOJ filed a motion for partial summary judgment, seeking to dismiss parts of the case. Oral arguments were held on November 13, 2024, with a decision pending.
Public Support: The lawsuit has garnered attention, with X posts in October 2022 by users like
@realtoriabrooke
and
@FreyjaTarte
highlighting its significance as a push for transparency in “the most mysterious murder of a U.S. president.”
Recent Developments and the 2025 Releases
The March 18, 2025, release of over 63,000 pages under Executive Order 14176, prompted by President Trump, was a significant step, but the MFF remains critical of its shortcomings:
IRS Files: Some IRS-related records were released, but privacy concerns led to the redaction or withholding of personal information (e.g., Social Security numbers). The MFF continues to push for non-tax-return IRS documents, like memos, to be fully disclosed.
FBI Documents: Over 1,500 FBI documents were included in prior releases (e.g., 2022), but the 2025 release left 2,400 newly identified FBI files unreleased. The MFF notes that unredacted FBI files, like those on Oswald’s Mexico City trip or HSCA investigations, are often less redacted but still incomplete.
Ongoing Advocacy: In a January 2025 statement, Rex Bradford outlined the state of the JFK Records Collection, emphasizing that 25–30% of the 5 million pages are available on the MFF’s site. He highlighted public statements by Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promising further declassification, fueling hope for more releases. The MFF is actively digitizing and OCRing the 2025 releases to improve accessibility, addressing NARA’s failure to do so.
Why the MFF Persists
The MFF’s “begging” for these files reflects their belief that full disclosure is essential to resolving lingering questions about the JFK assassination, particularly regarding potential intelligence agency involvement or cover-ups. They argue that:
Historical Significance: Even “Not Believed Relevant” documents could reveal new context, as seen in past releases that rewrote aspects of the Warren Commission’s formation or Oswald’s Mexico City trip.
Public Right to Know: With 60% of Americans (per a 2023 Gallup poll) believing in a conspiracy, the MFF sees withholding records as a betrayal of public trust.
Legal Mandate: The JFK Records Act’s 25-year sunset clause was meant to ensure full disclosure, and the MFF views ongoing redactions as a violation of Congressional intent.
Current Sentiment and Future Prospects
Posts on X reflect ongoing public and researcher interest, with Jefferson Morley praising the MFF’s efforts to make the 2025 releases searchable and criticizing NARA’s lack of OCR. The MFF’s lawsuit remains active, with the Ninth Circuit’s decision potentially impacting future releases. Trump’s and RFK Jr.’s promises of further declassification, coupled with the MFF’s advocacy, suggest that more IRS and FBI documents could be released, though legal and bureaucratic hurdles persist.