FBI Seeks to Block Release of J.F.K. Assassination Documents

The FBI wants to block the release of 15 documents containing classified information about informants and the agency’s contacts with foreign governments, according to an independent board probing materials related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

The FBI is the first government agency to clash with the Assassination Records Review Board, which reviews records that agencies want to keep secret for possible release. The board’s recommendations go to President Clinton, who has 30 days to agree or disagree.

The 15 FBI documents have previously been available with sections blocked out.

Last week, the board voted to fully release the documents, but the FBI has said it will appeal the decision to Clinton, board spokesman Tom Samoluk said Tuesday.

A telephone call to the FBI seeking comment was not immediately returned.

The FBI has not yet specified reasons for keeping parts of the documents classified but is expected to stress the sensitive nature of work with foreign governments and the need to protect informants’ identities.

The board also voted last week to release another FBI document, and two CIA documents concerning Lee Harvey Oswald’s trip to Mexico City before the assassination. Those decisions are not expected to be contested.

Responding to renewed public interest created by Oliver Stone’s film “JFK,” which portrayed an elaborate conspiracy behind the assassination, Congress in 1992 voted to compel the release of virtually all assassination documents to the archives.

Hundreds of thousands of pages have been released so far. The board’s job is to find any new materials and to decide if and when documents that have so far remained secret should be released.