Tucker Carlson Accuses Senator Of Blocking JFK File Access

Three wooden blocks with question marks stacked.

Tucker Carlson has accused Senator Tom Cotton of blocking access to crucial JFK assassination files, reigniting debates about government transparency and historical truth regarding one of America’s most scrutinized tragedies.

Quick Takes

Tucker Carlson claims Sen. Tom Cotton blocked a hire at the Senate Intelligence Committee to prevent access to JFK files
The FBI recently discovered 2,400 new records related to JFK’s assassination being transferred to National Archives
President Trump signed an executive order to declassify documents related to JFK, RFK, and MLK Jr. assassinations
Republican senators are pushing for the additional release of Jeffrey Epstein documents
Despite a 1990s mandate to release all assassination records by 2017, thousands remain partially classified

Carlson’s Explosive Claim Against Senator Cotton

During a recent appearance with Chris Cuomo, Tucker Carlson made a startling allegation against Senator Tom Cotton, claiming the senator worked to prevent a specific hire within the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. According to Carlson, Cotton’s actions were specifically aimed at restricting access to files related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. This accusation comes as the FBI announced the discovery of 2,400 previously undisclosed documents related to the Kennedy assassination, which are now being transferred to the National Archives for declassification review.

The timing of Carlson’s allegation is notable as it follows President Trump’s executive order directing the release of classified records related to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. Despite a federal mandate from the early 1990s that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection at the National Archives, an estimated 3,000 files have still not been fully released to the public. The continued secrecy surrounding these documents has fueled decades of conspiracy theories about who was really behind Kennedy’s murder.

FBI’s New Discovery Raises Questions

The FBI’s announcement about finding previously unknown JFK assassination records has raised eyebrows among researchers and transparency advocates. These 2,400 documents were discovered at the FBI’s Central Records Complex, which only opened in 2020, explaining how they might have remained hidden for so long. Jefferson Morley of the Mary Ferrell Foundation, a prominent JFK assassination research organization, described the FBI’s disclosure as “refreshingly candid” and suggested it demonstrates a new commitment to transparency that could set a precedent for other intelligence agencies.

“It shows that the FBI is serious about being transparent,” said Jefferson Morley of the Mary Ferrell Foundation.

This discovery has sparked debate among historians and assassination researchers. Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which supports the Warren Commission’s conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, expressed skepticism about what might be contained in these newly found documents. He noted they could simply be duplicates of existing records, but their discovery after decades raises serious questions about record-keeping and what other information might still be hidden from public view.

Expanding Transparency Beyond JFK

The conversation about government transparency has now expanded beyond the Kennedy assassination. Following President Trump’s executive order on JFK files, several Republican senators have publicly called for the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in his jail cell in 2019. Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) have all expressed support for making these documents public, regardless of who might be implicated in them.

“I don’t care if he’s named in them. The American people are entitled to know the truth. The man’s dead as Jimmy Hoffa ― he’s gone ― and his sidekick’s in jail. We’re entitled to know what he did, who he did it with and whether he broke any laws,” said Sen. John Kennedy.

While Trump hinted during his campaign about releasing Epstein files if elected, these documents were not included in his recent executive order. Some have speculated this omission might be related to Trump’s previous social connections with Epstein, though Trump distanced himself from Epstein following the latter’s 2019 arrest. Senator Kennedy emphasized that regardless of who might be named in the files, Americans deserve to know the truth about Epstein’s activities and potential crimes.

Public Interest vs. National Security

The ongoing debate about these classified documents highlights the tension between public interest in historical truth and government claims about national security concerns. The JFK collection was originally scheduled to be fully opened by 2017, but some records were withheld due to claimed security concerns. Previous document releases have revealed details about intelligence operations and Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities, including his visits to Soviet and Cuban embassies before the assassination, which have been central to various conspiracy theories about foreign involvement.

“If they are really new assassination documents, then it raises a whole bunch of questions about how they were missed for all of these years,” Gerald Posner said.

With over 5 million pages of records already in the JFK assassination collection, the remaining classified documents represent a small but potentially significant portion. Recent focus has centered on the CIA’s surveillance of Oswald before the assassination, and these newly discovered FBI files might contain related information. Carlson’s allegation against Senator Cotton suggests that even today, certain powerful figures may be working to keep some of this information from reaching the public, raising questions about what secrets might still be hidden in government archives.