The House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets will hold its first hearing on April 1 to examine newly released documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced Thursday.
In a virtual briefing with longtime JFK researcher and Mary Ferrell Foundation Vice President Jefferson Morley, Luna outlined the scope of the committee’s work, including a potential investigation into whether the Central Intelligence Agency misled Congress about the events surrounding the 1963 assassination.
“The task force and the transparency this is providing is long overdue,” Luna said. “The reason that you have such an array of theories is because the government was not transparent.”
READ: Newly Released JFK Files Reveal CIA’s Extensive Use of Diplomatic Cover During The 1950s, 1960s
Morley, an investigative journalist and declassification advocate, will testify at the hearing as an expert witness. He is also assisting in efforts to locate a reportedly classified CIA Inspector General report that could suggest the agency withheld critical information from the House Select Committee on Assassinations during its 1977-1979 probe.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 23 ordering the expedited release of JFK assassination files and directing the Director of National Intelligence to present a full plan for declassification within 15 days. Speaking to reporters Friday, Trump emphasized his desire for maximum transparency—even if it meant disclosing unredacted personal information.
“I was given the task of releasing that because many presidents have gone through it and they haven’t released,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “I said ‘release.’ We even released social security numbers. I didn’t want anything deleted.”
While some researchers previously criticized delays in Trump’s earlier release of files, the president’s renewed push appears to be yielding results. According to Luna, 2,343 documents containing more than 77,000 pages have been released just this week, with the National Archives pledging that the full tranche of 80,000 documents will be scanned and publicly available by the end of the week.
READ: Trump Admin Releases Thousands Of Previously Classified JFK Assassination Files
Luna criticized what she described as “stonewalling” from federal agencies and the previous administration’s failure to fully release authorized records.
“All too often in Washington, especially when it involves the intelligence agencies, you have stonewalling that takes place,” Luna said. “So you kind of need a pitbull, or multiple pitbulls, that can actually go after individuals or agencies to ensure these documents are released.”
The task force is also pursuing a whistleblower tip about a CIA Inspector General report that may contain evidence the agency misled Congress during the 1970s probe. Luna confirmed that her team, along with staff at the National Archives, are actively searching for the document.
“I know you guys are looking for it, our team is looking for it and I also have the Archives looking for it,” Luna said. “We are working night and day to try to locate this document.”
READ: Florida Rep. Luna Presses AG Bondi For Full Jeffrey Epstein File Release Amid DOJ Silence
Luna expressed optimism that the full truth may finally come to light, citing “massive changes” at the CIA, FBI, and National Archives. She noted that current CIA Director John Ratcliffe supports the full release of JFK documents.
The House hearing is expected to spark renewed public interest in the long-debated assassination and raise fresh questions about intelligence agency conduct—both past and present.
The hearing will be open to the public and streamed online.
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