</s>was involved with one Arab group, but that there was no implication that his participation in Arab student activities affected his intent or attitude toward the assassination. Kanan Abdul Latif Hamzeh stated that Sirhan was an active mem- ber of an organization called the "Organization of Arab Students in the United States of America and Canada." Hamzah was the president of the Pasadena City College Chapter in 1965. The college chapter was not recognized by the parent organization. in New York because Pasadena City college did not give the group formal status on campus. Hamzach remarked that Sikhan appeared very interested in his school work and did not seem interested in politics. Hamzaeh did feel that Sirham could easily have been influenced by any Arab Nationalist cause because of his intense feelings against the Israelis. The chairman of the Pasadena Chapter in 1968 had no recollection of Sikhn as a member. They described the group as a social organization. However, Sirhan did not belong to a group called "The International Club" on the PasadenaCity College campus as was alleged, nor did he participate in any known Arab group. activities at other schools in the Pasadena area. An ex-postman alleged that Sihan received pro-Nasser literature from an organization named the "Arab Student League." Investi- gators were unable to locate any record of such an organization. It was determined that the ex-POSTman was probably being hysterical about his recollections which were heightened by the revelation of Sirhan's involvement in the shooting. He had not. -74- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details investigative findings related to Robert F. Kennedy’s (RFK) assassination on June 5, 1968, focusing on Sirhan Bishara Sirhan’s activities, weapon procurement, and alleged connections to conspiratorial networks. Sirhan purchased a .22 caliber revolver from George Erhard at Nash’s Department Store in Pasadena, California, and later acquired ammunition from a San Gabriel gun shop. Investigators concluded he acted independently, though conflicting witness accounts—such as those of Jerry Owen, Virginia Teresi, and John Gearhart—were disproven through polygraph examinations or timeline inconsistencies. A pharmacist, Mr. Spear S. Sayegh, was implicated in a phone conversation about "defense arrangements for Sirhan," but no direct link to the assassination was established. Sirhan practiced with the murder weapon at a shooting range in Duarte, California, and had alleged ties to Arab student groups, though these were deemed inconclusive. The investigation also examined a 1966 check theft case involving Sirhan’s brother Salman, which was unrelated to RFK. Trial preparations included witness interviews, evidence evaluation, and legal proceedings such as bail setting at $250,000 and an indictment by the County Grand Jury. Additional context includes a bomb threat reported on May 15, 1968, at San Fernando Valley College, where a flashbulb struck RFK’s forehead, and allegations of prior knowledge of an assassination attempt by Harold Weisberg, which were dismissed due to inconsistencies. The document also notes Sirhan’s brother Salman was arrested in Iraq as an Israeli spy (allegations later disproven) and references film footage from Theodore Charach, deemed unhelpful despite claims of "valuable new evidence." Conclusions affirm Sirhan fired the fatal shots with premeditation, no drug influence, legal sanity, and no evidence of a conspiracy.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhan**: Suspected assassin; purchased murder weapon, practiced shooting at ranges, and was linked to multiple witness accounts later disproven.  
- **George Erhard**: Colleague of Sirhan at Nash’s Department Store who facilitated the revolver sale.  
- **Jerry Owen (aka Jerry Owen)**: Voluntary witness alleging a conspiracy involving Sirhan and a horse purchase; claims disproven by polygraph results.  
- **Virginia Teresi**: Claimed to have overheard Sirhan discussing an assassination plan, but her account was fabricated.  
- **John Gearhart**: Allegedly witnessed Sirhan at a bar in Glendale the night of the assassination; story invalidated by polygraph and timeline evidence.  
- **Mr. Spear S. Sayegh**: Pharmacist implicated in a phone conversation about "defense arrangements for Sirhan," though no conspiracy link was established.  
- **Frank Mankiewicz**: RFK’s press secretary who confirmed a flashbulb struck Kennedy but stated no injury occurred.  
- **Harold Weisberg**: Writer claiming prior knowledge of an assassination attempt; his source remained unidentified, leading to investigation suspension.  
- **Alvin Clark**: Trash collector who reported conversations with Sirhan in 1967–1968 expressing intent to assassinate RFK.  

Key Locations  
- **Pasadena City College**: Mentioned as the location of an unaffiliated Arab student chapter; Sirhan may have joined but did not formally belong.  
- **San Gabriel Gun Shop**: Sold ammunition to Sirhan; initial witnesses later recanted statements after polygraph examinations.  
- **Duarte, California**: Site of a shooting range where Sirhan practiced with the murder weapon; conflicting witness accounts about his interactions there.  
- **Biltmore Hotel (Los Angeles)**: A hotel clerk reported Sirhan’s name on a registration card, but management denied this and provided unaltered records.  
- **San Fernando Valley College**: Site of a bomb threat and flashbulb incident on May 15, 1968.  
- **Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)**: Location of RFK’s assassination.  
- **Orange County**: Site of the Strawberry Festival where RFK addressed crowds on June 2, 1968.  
- **Disneyland**: Unplanned stop during RFK’s travel itinerary from Orange County to Los Angeles.  
- **Beverly Hills Hotel**: Where Kennedy children were transferred after leaving Disneyland.  

Key Events  
- **Purchase of Murder Weapon**: Sirhan acquired a .22 caliber revolver from George Erhard at Nash’s Department Store in Pasadena.  
- **Ammunition Acquisition**: Sirhan obtained ammunition from a San Gabriel gun shop, with initial witness accounts later discredited.  
- **Shooting Range Activity**: Sirhan practiced with the murder weapon at a range in Duarte, California, under conflicting witness claims.  
- **Bomb Threat and Flashbulb Incident**: On May 15, 1968, a bomb threat was reported at San Fernando Valley College; a flashbulb struck RFK’s forehead.  
- **Witness Allegations and Disproval**: Multiple witnesses (Owen, Teresi, Gearhart) claimed to have overheard or interacted with Sirhan in connection to the assassination, but their accounts were invalidated through polygraph tests or timeline inconsistencies.  
- **Pharmacist’s Phone Conversation**: Mr. Spear S. Sayegh allegedly discussed "defense arrangements for Sirhan," though no direct link to RFK’s assassination was established.  
- **Check Theft Investigation**: Sirhan’s brother Salman was arrested in Iraq as an Israeli spy (allegations later disproven) in a 1966 check theft case in Corona, California.  
- **Case Preparation Team Established**: A three-man team was formed on June 12, 1968, to prepare for Sirhan’s trial, including witness interviews and evidence evaluation.  
- **Legal Proceedings**: Bail set at $250,000, indictment by the County Grand Jury, and trial preparations involving motions for discovery and suppression of evidence.  
- **Film Footage Investigation**: Theodore Charach provided film footage from June 2–4, 1968, but it was deemed unhelpful; the film was later found stolen and reappeared in *Life Magazine*.  
- **Letter Analysis**: The Department received 296 unsolicited letters, most classified as crank letters or threats, with only six warranting follow-up.  

Key Organizations  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Conducted the investigation into RFK’s assassination.  
- **District Attorney’s Office**: Handled evidence collection and legal proceedings against Sirhan.  
- **Public Defender’s Office**: Represented Sirhan during trial.  
- **American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)**: Commented on court procedures protecting Sirhan’s rights.  
- **John Birch Society**: Rex Westerfield, a member, alleged a Marxist conspiracy in RFK’s assassination.  
- **U.C.L.A.**: Provided film footage allegedly taken during RFK’s events, though deemed unhelpful.  
- **US Department**: Received unsolicited letters and conducted inquiries into allegations.

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156_sec_001_ser_06-1968-02-1969-part_3_of_9.pdf

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