President's Oct. 26 Memo Re: JFK Records

In this memo President Trump authorizes the Archivist of the United States to make the determination as to whether a specific record should be withheld or redacted and make recommendations to him. 

October 26, 2017

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

SUBJECT: Temporary Certification for Certain Records Related to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Trump to release some, but not all, JFK assassination records

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. To further address these concerns, I am also ordering agencies to re-review each and every one of those redactions over the next 180 days. At the end of that period, I will order the public disclosure of any information that the agencies cannot demonstrate meets the statutory standard for continued postponement of disclosure under section 5(g)(2)(D) of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 U.S.C. 2107 note) (the "Act").

Accordingly, by the authority vested in me as President and Commander in Chief by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby certify that all information within records that agencies have proposed for continued postponement under section 5(g)(2)(D) of the Act must be temporarily withheld from full public disclosure until no later than April 26, 2018, to allow sufficient time to determine whether such information warrants continued postponement under the Act. This temporary withholding from full public disclosure is necessary to protect against harm to the military defense, intelligence operations, law enforcement, or the conduct of foreign relations that is of such gravity that it outweighs the public interest in immediate disclosure.

I hereby direct all agencies that have proposed postponement of full disclosure to review the information subject to this certification and identify as much as possible that may be publicly disclosed without harm to the military defense, intelligence operations, law enforcement, or conduct of foreign relations.

Any agency that seeks to request further postponement beyond this temporary certification shall adhere to the findings of the Act, which state, among other things, that "only in the rarest cases is there any legitimate need for continued protection of such records." 

The need for continued protection can only have grown weaker with the passage of time since the Congress made this finding. Accordingly, each agency head should be extremely circumspect in recommending any further postponement of full disclosure of records. 

Any agency that seeks further postponement shall, no later than March 12, 2018, report to the Archivist of the United States (Archivist) on the specific information within particular records that meets the standard for continued postponement under section 5(g)(2)(D) of the Act. 

Thereafter, the Archivist shall recommend to me, no later than March 26, 2018, whether the specific information within particular records identified by agencies warrants continued withholding from public disclosure after April 26, 2018.

The Archivist is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

DONALD J. TRUMP

New JFK Assassination Calendar Dates

Thursday and Friday, November 16-17, 2017 – Texas v. Lee Harvey Oswald – a review of the evidence today. CAPA and Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas.

Friday and Saturday, November 17-18 , 2017 – November in Dallas Conference (JFK Lancer) and Fifth Annual JFK Conference at Crown Plaza Hotel.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017 - Dealey Plaza ceremony, Dallas, Texas.

Sunday March 11 - Saturday March 17, 2018 – Sunshine Week 

Monday, March 12, 2018 – Agencies must tell Archivist what record they want withheld or redacted and why.

Monday, March 26 - 2018 – Archivist of the United States (AOTUS) recommends to the president what records should remain withheld or released redacted.

Thursday, April 26, 2018 – President of the United States decides if any records will be withheld or released with redactions.