"Unravel the Kennedy Assassination Mystery" Biden Pressured as Majority in US Supports

71% Support Public Release of 'JFK Files'... Bipartisan Voter Backing
President Biden Has Promised Full Disclosure by the 15th

U.S. President Joe Biden. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Sung-wook] A majority of American voters support the release of records related to the assassination of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy (JFK). The deadline for President Joe Biden to decide on releasing these records is June 15.

According to NBC and other outlets on the 6th (local time), a survey conducted by U.S. pollster Fernand Amandi from May 14 to 22, targeting 2,000 adult voters, found that 71% of respondents supported the full disclosure of government records related to President Kennedy's assassination. By party affiliation, 76% of Republican supporters and 66% of Democratic supporters expressed support, showing bipartisan approval. By age group, the highest support was among young adults aged 18 to 29, with 84%. Only 10% of respondents said the release should be delayed if the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opposed it.

According to the Mary Ferrell Foundation, which holds the largest collection of JFK assassination records, the so-called 'JFK files' are estimated to include about 16,000 previously hidden government secrets. Among these are 44 records related to a secret CIA program in Cuba connected to Lee Harvey Oswald, who was identified as the assassin of President Kennedy. The U.S. Congress enacted a law in 1992 to collect records related to Kennedy's assassination, mandating their release within 25 years. As a result, some documents were released between 1994 and 1998, but many were disclosed with sensitive information redacted or withheld.

The U.S. government has repeatedly postponed the release of the 'JFK files.' Former President Donald Trump delayed the release once, initially planning to disclose the records on October 26, 2021. The administration changed in the meantime, and President Biden postponed it again, releasing some documents on December 15 last year. However, he promised full disclosure by December 15 of this year, one year later. Amandi, who led the recent poll, said, "There are few opportunities to unite many American voters, and President Biden's release of the 'JFK files,' promised a year ago, is one of them."

According to NBC, the CIA engaged in intensive lobbying to influence the presidents' decisions to delay the release. The CIA is at the center of conspiracy theories related to President Kennedy's assassination. The poll found that half of the voters suspected multiple conspirators beyond Oswald in the assassination. Among those who believe Oswald was part of a conspiracy, 31% think the CIA was involved in the assassination plot. Additionally, 13% suspect the Mafia, 7% the Cuban government, and 6% the Soviet Union.

The White House, CIA, and FBI did not issue official comments on the survey results. NBC predicted, "If President Biden releases the documents on December 15, he will receive broad and bipartisan voter support."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.