







DALLAS, TEXAS – The March 18, 2025, release of the JFK 80k files is one of the most significant document dumps in American history, offering an unprecedented look into the murky depths of Cold War intelligence, organized crime, and political machinations that have shrouded the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in mystery for over six decades. With 80,000 pages of records spanning investigations by the FBI, CIA, Secret Service, and various governmental committees, this release is the most comprehensive yet. While it does not completely rewrite the official narrative, it presents new findings, fills in some longstanding gaps, and reignites controversy over one of the most debated assassinations in history. The files include the previously classified 2,400 FBI documents discovered in February 2025, further expanding our understanding of the event, the individuals involved, and the broader geopolitical landscape of the early 1960s.
A Nation in Shock: Revisiting November 22, 1963
To fully grasp the significance of these newly released records, we must return to the day that changed America forever. At 12:30 PM CST, November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was riding in an open-top Lincoln Continental through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Alongside him were First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Texas Governor John Connally, and Connally’s wife, Nellie. The motorcade was part of a trip intended to mend fractures in the Democratic Party ahead of the 1964 election. As they passed the Texas School Book Depository, three shots rang out. Kennedy was struck twice, with the fatal headshot shattering his skull. Connally was also wounded but survived. The motorcade rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where Kennedy was pronounced dead at 1:00 PM CST.
An hour later, authorities arrested 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald at a Dallas movie theater after he fatally shot police officer J.D. Tippit during the manhunt. Oswald, a former Marine who had defected to the Soviet Union in 1959 before returning to the U.S. in 1962, was swiftly charged with Kennedy’s murder. Two days later, as he was being transferred from police custody, he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner with alleged ties to organized crime. Oswald’s murder, captured live on national television, denied the public a trial that could have provided critical insights into his motives and potential connections.
The Warren Commission, convened by President Lyndon B. Johnson, concluded in September 1964 that Oswald acted alone, firing three shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository using a 6.5mm Carcano rifle. This conclusion, however, was immediately met with skepticism, giving rise to decades of conspiracy theories. By 1979, the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) ruled there was a “high probability” of a conspiracy, citing acoustic evidence suggesting a second shooter. Nevertheless, the full truth remained elusive, with critical records kept classified under the pretext of national security—until now.
The 80k Files: What They Contain and Why They Matter
The JFK 80k files represent a treasure trove of historical documents, including typewritten FBI field reports, CIA intelligence memos, Secret Service logs, autopsy records, and even transcripts of intercepted phone calls. While these files do not provide an explosive revelation—a written confession from a co-conspirator, for instance—they do present an array of evidence that complicates the official story.
Oswald’s Mexico City Trip: New Revelations
One of the most consequential findings involves Oswald’s trip to Mexico City from September 27 to October 3, 1963. Newly unredacted CIA documents provide a detailed account of his visits to the Soviet and Cuban embassies, where he sought visas to travel to both countries. Particularly damning is an October 10, 1963, CIA report detailing Oswald’s meeting with Valeriy Kostikov, a KGB officer believed to be connected to Department 13—the Soviet unit responsible for sabotage and assassinations.
Additional CIA surveillance logs reveal intercepted phone calls between Oswald and Soviet officials, where he reportedly expressed frustration over his visa status and an urgent need to travel. A November 23, 1963, memo from CIA counterintelligence chief James Jesus Angleton suggests that Oswald may have been “activated” by Soviet intelligence during this trip, though no concrete follow-up is noted in the files.
The CIA’s intensive surveillance of Oswald during his time in Mexico raises serious questions. If he was viewed as a potential security risk, why were these concerns not relayed to the Secret Service or Dallas authorities? More importantly, why did the Warren Commission not have access to these reports in 1964?
Jack Ruby’s Mob Connections: A More Sinister Role?
Jack Ruby’s connections to organized crime have long been suspected, but the newly released FBI and CIA documents reinforce the theory that he was more than just an emotionally unstable nightclub owner seeking to avenge Kennedy. The files include transcripts of Ruby’s phone calls to known mob figures in the weeks leading up to the assassination, including conversations with Johnny Roselli—an underworld figure involved in CIA-Mafia plots to assassinate Fidel Castro—and a lieutenant of Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana.
A February 1963 FBI informant report quotes Santo Trafficante Jr., a powerful Florida mobster, saying, “Kennedy’s days are numbered—we’ll get him one way or another.” This statement, made in the context of Kennedy’s crackdown on organized crime and his administration’s abandonment of CIA-Mafia efforts to oust Castro, strongly suggests that at least some members of the Mafia had a vested interest in eliminating the president.
Ruby’s financial troubles, revealed in previously classified FBI reports, further paint a picture of a man who could have been under immense pressure. Owing over $40,000 to organized crime figures (equivalent to over $350,000 today), Ruby was in a vulnerable position. The question remains: Was he acting alone when he shot Oswald, or was he silencing the accused assassin on behalf of more powerful forces?
New Evidence for a Second Shooter
Forensic inconsistencies have long plagued the official version of events, and the 80k files introduce additional evidence that challenges the single-gunman theory. Among the most compelling revelations are newly uncovered ballistic analyses indicating that one of Kennedy’s wounds was inconsistent with a shot fired from the sixth-floor window of the Depository. Additionally, a suppressed witness statement—originally taken hours after the assassination but later buried in FBI archives—describes seeing “a puff of smoke” and an unidentified figure near the infamous grassy knoll.
These findings bolster the controversial acoustic evidence from the 1979 HSCA report, which concluded that there was a high probability of a fourth shot fired from the front, implying the presence of a second gunman. However, as has been the case for decades, a definitive answer remains just out of reach.
The CIA’s Role: Negligence or Intentional Cover-Up?
Perhaps one of the most damning revelations in the files is the extent of the CIA’s intelligence-gathering on Oswald—yet its failure to act. Records show that Oswald was monitored from his days as a defector in the Soviet Union, through his return to the U.S., and during his 1963 activities in New Orleans and Mexico City. Despite this, there was no coordinated effort to investigate him as a potential threat to the president.
Previously classified White House memos show Kennedy’s growing mistrust of the CIA, particularly in the aftermath of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. His administration sought to rein in the agency’s autonomy, an effort that created tension between the president and the intelligence community. Some researchers argue that this friction may have contributed to a lack of transparency—or worse. (CONTINUED BELOW)
The Missing Pieces: What We Still Don’t Know
Despite the magnitude of this document release, significant gaps remain. Large portions of the anticipated files—two-thirds, by some estimates—are either still classified or “under final review.” The absence of key IRS records detailing mob finances, and redactions in the FBI’s 2,400 newly discovered files, raise concerns that the full story remains out of reach.
Conclusion: A Step Toward the Truth, but Not the Final Chapter
The JFK 80k files are an extraordinary addition to the historical record, but they do not provide a definitive answer to the greatest political mystery of the 20th century. Instead, they deepen our understanding of the complexities surrounding Kennedy’s assassination while exposing the failures—whether through negligence or intent—of intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and government officials. The files reinforce the notion that the full truth has yet to be told, ensuring that the debate will continue for generations to come.

“The Don’t Unfriend Me Show” explores a broad range of political themes, from satire to serious topics, with Matt Speer, a Navy Intel veteran, husband, and father, leading the show. Matt shares his views to stimulate constructive discussions. The show aims to provide a balanced perspective on complex issues, welcoming participants of all political affiliations to share their unique viewpoints.