JFK Two Shooters Theory: Files Release Could Upend Assassination Details

Breaking News: Representative Anna Paulina Luna Revives JFK Assassination Conspiracy Theories

In a press conference on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R) stirred up long-standing conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy by claiming she believes "two shooters" were involved in the tragic event. This statement comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order declassifying government files related to the JFK assassination, a move that has reignited public interest in one of the most enduring unsolved mysteries in American history. Trump’s order also extends to the declassification of files related to the assassinations of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, signaling a potential shift in the nation’s understanding of these pivotal events.

The Significance of Trump’s Executive Order

President Trump’s decision to declassify documents related to the JFK assassination has been met with both anticipation and skepticism. While some hope that the release of these files will finally provide clarity and dispel decades of speculation, others remain cautious, noting that previous releases have yielded little in the way of definitive answers. The Warren Commission, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the aftermath of the assassination, concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in shooting Kennedy from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas on November 22, 1963. However, conspiracy theories have persisted, with many pointing to alleged anomalies in the evidence and suggesting the involvement of additional shooters or even larger conspiracies involving government agencies, organized crime, or foreign actors.

Representative Luna’s assertion of "two shooters" aligns with one of the most popular conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination. She cited conflicting evidence and anomalies reported by the FBI in the initial autopsy at Bethesda, Maryland, as the basis for her beliefs. Luna, who will now lead a new congressional task force aimed at uncovering "federal secrets," expressed her hope that the task force can "put to bed some of the theories that have been out there" by shedding light on the full truth. The bipartisan task force plans to review thousands of pages of JFK assassination files before their public release and may call on attending physicians from the initial autopsy and members of various investigative commissions to testify. However, since all members of the Warren Commission have passed away, it remains unclear who exactly Luna plans to bring in to provide testimony.

The "Two Shooter" Theory: What It Is and Why It Persists

The "two shooter" theory suggests that more than one gunman was involved in the assassination of President Kennedy. This theory directly challenges the Warren Commission’s conclusion that Oswald acted alone, firing three shots from the Texas School Book Depository. Supporters of the theory often point to eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, and government documents that they claim indicate gunfire came from the grassy knoll in Dealey Plaza, in addition to the depository where Oswald was stationed. Some witnesses, including law enforcement officers, reported hearing shots from the front of Kennedy’s motorcade, contradicting the official narrative of a lone gunman firing from behind.

In 1979, the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) reviewed acoustical analysis of police recordings and suggested a 95% probability of a second shooter. However, later studies disputed these findings, leaving the question unresolved. The theory has also been fueled by skepticism over the "magic bullet" theory, which posits that one bullet caused multiple wounds to both Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally, who was riding in the car with the president. While the Warren Commission accepted this explanation, many find it implausible and argue that additional gunfire would have been necessary to account for the injuries.

The "two shooter" theory has been further complicated by broader conspiracy theories that implicate groups such as the CIA, FBI, Mafia, or even foreign governments like the Soviet Union or Cuba. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of President Kennedy and a well-known conspiracy theorist, has suggested that the CIA may have played a role in the assassination. Interestingly, Trump has nominated Kennedy Jr. to be the next U.S. health secretary, a move that has drawn criticism given Kennedy Jr.’s promotion of various conspiracy theories over the years.

Public opinion on the assassination remains divided. A 2022 poll of 2,000 U.S. voters conducted by Democratic pollster Fernand Amandi found that only 38% of respondents were convinced by the Warren Commission’s conclusions, while half believed multiple conspirators were involved. The FBI has reportedly uncovered about 14,000 pages of material related to the JFK assassination since Trump’s executive order, adding to the already massive trove of documents that have been released over the years.

What’s Next? The Release of JFK Files and the Ongoing Debate

Despite the excitement surrounding Trump’s executive order, it remains unclear when the JFK files will be released to the public. The order directs the director of national intelligence and the attorney general to present a plan within 15 days for the "full and complete release of records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy." While Trump initially pledged to release all remaining files during his first term in office, he ultimately agreed to withhold some documents after government agencies, including the CIA and FBI, argued that their release could pose national security risks.

In July 2023, Biden’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, stated that 99% of records related to Kennedy’s assassination were already available for public consumption through the National Archives and Records Administration. Between 2021 and July 2023, Biden declassified more than 16,000 documents related to the assassination. However, many advocates for transparency argue that the remaining 1% could hold critical clues that have been hidden for decades.

Reactions to the Declassification and the Ongoing Debate

As the nation awaits the release of the remaining JFK files, reactions to the development have been mixed. Historians and experts like Harvard’s Fredrik Logevall and author Gerald Posner have tempered expectations, suggesting that the declassified documents are unlikely to reveal anything dramatic or fundamentally alter our understanding of the assassination. Posner, who wrote Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK, predicted that "anybody waiting for a smoking gun that’s going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed."

On the other hand, some political commentators, including left-wing figure Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, have praised Trump’s executive order as a positive step toward transparency. Uygur, a frequent Trump critic, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Trump ordering the release of government files on JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations is a great thing. I don’t know how much of the real evidence is in there, but I’ll take it. And I’d like to remind my friends on the left, releasing the files was originally a left-wing position."

The Enduring Legacy of the JFK Assassination and the Quest for Truth

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy remains one of the most traumatic and perplexing events in American history, with its legacy continuing to captivate and divide the nation. Representative Luna’s endorsement of the "two shooter" theory and the ongoing declassification of JFK records have reignited a debate that has persisted for more than half a century. While some hope that the release of these documents will bring closure and finally resolve the unanswered questions surrounding the assassination, others fear that the truth may remain elusive, leaving the mystery of that fateful day in Dallas to endure for generations to come.

As the bipartisan congressional task force led by Representative Luna prepares to review the newly declassified files, the American public will once again be reminded of the power of transparency and the importance of seeking truth, even in the face of uncertainty. Whether the release of these documents will conclusively settle the debate or merely add more fuel to the fire of speculation remains to be seen. One thing is certain, however: the assassination of John F. Kennedy continues to be a defining moment in American history, and the quest for answers will persist as long as questions remain.