New RFK Files Reveal Investigators Feared a Government Plot
Robert F. Kennedy, 1966. Public domain.
Moments after declaring victory in the 1968 California Democratic primary, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot and killed in the kitchen pantry of Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel. The shooter, Sirhan Sirhan, was apprehended on the scene and later convicted of murder. But new documents — and old inconsistencies — continue to fuel one of America's most persistent political murder mysteries. According to 10,000 pages of newly declassified files released in April 2025, some federal investigators believed within weeks of Kennedy's death that the killing may not have been the work of a lone gunman. What followed was a decades-long tug-of-war between official conclusions and lingering doubts — many of them backed by those who were there
A Memo Suggests High-Level Involvement
An FBI memo dated June 21, 1968 — just 16 days after Kennedy's assassination — references an anonymous tipster who claimed that a Justice Department attorney had said the killing was encouraged by a "high government official," according to the National Enquirer.
The memo, according to the National Enquirer, stated that the bureau was "endeavoring to determine the facts surrounding this purported statement," though no follow-up documentation has been found in the newly released files.
This document lends weight to a long-held belief by Kennedy's son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, that Sirhan Sirhan did not act alone. RFK Jr. has openly questioned the official narrative for years, especially in light of forensic inconsistencies and suspicious witness accounts.
A Woman in a Polka-Dot Dress — Then Gone
One of the most puzzling threads in the case involved a woman wearing a polka-dot dress. According to FBI notes dated June 24, 1968, at least 14 eyewitnesses saw her running from the crime scene, allegedly shouting, "We shot him! We shot Kennedy!" as reported to the National Enquirer.
She was also seen entering the hotel with two men, one of whom was reportedly identified as Sirhan himself. Despite efforts that included a lineup of dresses presented to witnesses, investigators never identified the woman. She was never arrested, never questioned, and never mentioned in Sirhan's trial. The absence of follow-up has only fed suspicion.
Sirhan Was in Front — But the Fatal Shot Wasn't
The autopsy performed by Los Angeles County coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi found that the fatal bullet entered the back of Kennedy's head from just behind his right ear at close range.
Sirhan, however, was seen standing in front of Kennedy. Numerous eyewitnesses — including journalists and campaign aides — said Sirhan never got closer than several feet and always remained ahead of Kennedy during the chaos.
Even more confusing, ballistics evidence suggested more shots were fired than Sirhan's revolver could hold. Sirhan's weapon was capable of firing only eight rounds, but some investigators and witnesses estimated at least 13 shots were heard.
Slugs recovered from the crime scene also reportedly didn't match those fired from Sirhan's gun, though these details were dismissed or unresolved in court.
The Assassin's Notes: Evidence of Obsession
The newly released files include images of handwritten notes from Sirhan Sirhan, written on an IRS envelope and in a college notebook. "RFK must be disposed of like his brother was," he wrote repeatedly, according to The Guardian.
Other phrases reported by The Guardian — such as "RFK must die" and "My determination to eliminate RFK is becoming more of an unshakable obsession" — further cemented the case for premeditation.
According to The Guardian, Sirhan also reportedly expressed anti-American sentiments and support for communist regimes, stating in one document, "I have no absolute plans yet, but soon will compose them," and advocating for the "overthrow of the current president."
According to the Week, some of Sirhan's associates described him as impressionable and moody, while others found him to be kind-hearted. These conflicting character assessments only added to the confusion surrounding his motives and mental state.
The CIA Connection: Rumor or Reality?
Another dimension of the conspiracy theory — popularized by researchers and embraced by some political figures — suggests that RFK was a threat to the CIA. His campaign promised to wind down the Vietnam War and reexamine the 1963 assassination of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. According to assassination expert Jeff Rovin, "The CIA was terrified of what he would find if he won the election," as reported by The National Enquirer.
While no direct link to CIA operatives has ever been proven, the theory gained traction due to the agency's long history of covert operations during the Cold War and its role in foreign regime changes. Recently released files also reference interviews with tourists who claimed to have heard of Kennedy's impending assassination weeks before it occurred — in Israel, Nebraska, and Milwaukee — adding another layer of mystery.
Still in Prison, Still No Closure
Sirhan Sirhan remains incarcerated at a California state prison. In 2021, a parole board deemed him eligible for release, but Governor Gavin Newsom reportedly blocked the decision, citing Sirhan's lack of insight into the shooting. A different parole panel again denied his release in 2023.
Despite growing calls for transparency — including from within the Trump administration — no "smoking gun" has yet been uncovered. RFK Jr. called the recent document dump "a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government," as reported by The Guardian, and commended both President Donald Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for pursuing the declassification.
And while those files have renewed public interest, even Kennedy Jr. admits they likely won't provide definitive answers.
References: New Files Reveal Investigators Suspected High-Level Conspiracy in Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 Assassination | US releases thousands of files related to Robert F Kennedy assassination | Conspiracy theorists circle again following RFK file release
