JFK Secrets/ DB Cooper Revelations

Hosted byRichard Syrett

JFK Secrets/ DB Cooper Revelations

About the show

Last month, additional JFK files were finally released to the public, but many are still being kept secret. In the first half of the show, JFK assassination expert James DiEugenio joined Richard Syrett to discuss what was released, why it matters, and what the government is still hiding.

According to DiEugenio, of the 3,700 documents withheld in full, only 52 were released on October 26—the supposed last day the documents could be legally concealed. "On that day, if [Trump] would have not given in, you would have had over 3,000 documents finally declassified that nobody has ever seen before," he said. In total, between the pre-release, the October 26 release, and three releases since, only around 20% of the withheld in full documents have been released, DiEugenio estimated, noting that many of them have been heavily redacted. As an example, he pointed to an 11-page document on Jim Garrison which had eight full pages missing.

Documents could be postponed because they contained sensitive information or the details were not believed relevant (NBR), DiEugenio continued. One such document, which DiEugenio could not believe was NBR, identified Dallas Mayor Earl Cabell, brother of Deputy Director of CIA Charles Cabell (fired by JFK following the failure of the Bay of Pigs Invasion), as a CIA asset. DiEugenio cited some gems in the release, including a document which seems to indicate Lee Harvey Oswald and his killer Jack Ruby knew each other prior to the assassination. In addition, the documents show zero evidence Oswald applied for passage to Cuba at its embassy in Mexico, DiEugenio revealed. "If Oswald was not in Mexico City, this very strongly suggests that there was a pre-planned operation to impersonate him... so that they could put together this story," he proposed.

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In November 1971, a skyjacker who claimed to have a briefcase bomb demanded a $200,000 ransom and four parachutes. Then he vanished out the aircraft's back door and became an instant legend. In the second half of the program, DB Cooper expert Thomas Colbert reported on new information from his team's ongoing investigation in the Cooper case. "We found him in California and his name is Robert W. Rackstraw... that's definitely the guy," he said. According to Colbert, there are 102 pieces of evidence, including DNA, which prove Rackstraw is Cooper. In addition to being on the FBI's list of suspects, Rackstraw had every skill set required to pull off the skyjacking, including paratrooper experience, special forces training, and helicopter piloting, Colbert explained.

Curiously, a week before Colbert's team was to turn over evidence the FBI announced they were closing the case and would not accept any of the new evidence. According to Colbert, the FBI has covered up important facts related to the case to hide their embarrassment at Cooper's escape from justice. Such evidence includes pieces of money and the parachute DB Cooper used in his escape, as well as the identification of two living accomplices who picked up Cooper after he landed, Colbert revealed. The evidence presented in Colbert's book contains 50 pages of notes which support the conclusion that Rackstraw is Cooper. "Rackstraw has posted online at least a dozen times pleading for a lawyer. No one will come to him because, frankly, everybody who looks at [our] book goes, 'you're him,'" he admitted.

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Last Night

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