RFK Jr. defends Kennedy Admin’s wiretapping of MLK Jr
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
3:30 PM – Monday, January 15, 2024
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. passionately defended his family’s controversial decision to wiretap the iconic Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., describing it as a “bold political move.”
During a recent campaign trip to Atlanta, Georgia, on the eve of the MLK Jr. U.S. holiday, RFK Jr. justified his family’s controversial decision to allow the FBI to wiretap MLK Jr. He argued that it was a necessary step given the political tensions of the Civil Rights era.
RFK Jr. revealed that both his father and late President John F. Kennedy had placed significant bets on King and the March on Washington, which led them to approve the wiretapping. This decision was made during RFK Jr.’s tenure as the 64th United States attorney general.
“They were not only supporting the civil rights movement but also protecting their own careers. They were aware of Hoover’s intentions to destroy King,” RFK Jr. stated, referring to then-FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover.
According to RFK Jr., the Kennedy administration had a valid reason to support Hoover’s surveillance of King. The FBI director viewed MLK Jr. as a “dangerous radical” with communist affiliations.
“At that time, there was a good reason for their actions,” RFK Jr. explained. “My father gave permission to Hoover to wiretap them so he could either prove or disprove his suspicions about King. Politically, they felt compelled to do it.”
However, RFK Jr.’s defense of his family’s involvement in this controversial episode has raised concerns among some voters. They worry that he may be compromising his reputation as a truth-teller who stands up for marginalized communities.
Recent revelations have shed more light on the FBI’s extensive surveillance campaign against MLK Jr. than what was previously known from declassified documents. It is widely reported that the FBI even sent a letter to MLK Jr., suggesting that he should take his own life.
In her book “The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover’s Secret FBI,” Betty Medsger described the FBI’s years-long operation to destroy King, which involved office break-ins, informants, mail interception, wiretapping, and bugging of King’s premises.
“The plot involved office break-ins, use of informers, mail opening, wiretapping, and bugging of King’s office, home and hotel rooms,” Medsger added.
RFK Jr. acknowledged that his uncle and father were well aware of Hoover’s animosity towards civil rights groups and considered him a racist. He also claimed that if his uncle had not been assassinated, he would have removed Hoover from office during his second term as president.
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What are the contrasting opinions regarding RFK Jr.’s defense of his family’s wiretapping decision in terms of its impact on civil liberties and national security
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Despite the controversy surrounding the wiretapping, RFK Jr. emphasized that it was a decision made in the context of the times and the political climate. He argued that his family was not the only one to engage in such actions, citing other instances of wiretapping by various administrations throughout history.
“It was a different time, and people made different choices,” RFK Jr. stated. “The civil rights movement was a critical moment in our nation’s history, and my family felt the need to take extraordinary measures to protect its progress.”
RFK Jr.’s defense of his family’s controversial decision has sparked a wider conversation about the balance between protecting civil liberties and national security. Critics argue that the government’s surveillance activities, both past and present, undermine basic constitutional rights and privacy.
However, supporters of RFK Jr. maintain that his family’s history of championing civil rights and social justice should not be overshadowed by this particular decision. They point to the Kennedys’ support for desegregation, voting rights, and their overall contribution to advancing equality in the United States.
In conclusion, RFK Jr.’s defense of his family’s decision to wiretap Martin Luther King Jr. has sparked controversy and raised concerns among some voters. However, the historical context and the political tensions of the Civil Rights era must be taken into account when evaluating this controversial episode. Ultimately, the decision made by RFK Jr.’s family was a product of its time and the desire to protect the progress of the civil rights movement. The debate surrounding the wiretapping serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between safeguarding civil liberties and national security.
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