Over six decades after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a wave of suspicion is once again shaking the case — this time, with a deadly French twist.
According to thousands of newly declassified pages from the National Archives — released following a directive by former President Donald Trump — former French military officer Jean René Souètre has emerged as a significant suspect in the November 22, 1963, slaying. Though the Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, the new documents reveal troubling links between Souètre, the CIA, and the outlawed French terror group Organisation Armée Secrète (OAS).
Souètre, also known by aliases Michel Mertz and Michel Roux, reportedly had deep CIA ties and was once detained by U.S. authorities in Dallas just hours after Kennedy was shot. He was quietly deported to Mexico through Laredo, Texas, according to federal records. Despite Souètre denying any role in JFK’s murder, FBI documents now indicate the agency suspected he either pulled the trigger or had firsthand knowledge of the killing.
Terrorist link covered up for decades
Souètre was a member of OAS, a violent group that targeted French President Charles de Gaulle for granting Algeria its independence. The same group also hated Kennedy, who backed de Gaulle’s anti-colonial stance and allegedly ordered the CIA to disrupt OAS operations.
A document states that OAS had a deep hatred for Kennedy and describes Souètre as a trained terrorist fully capable of carrying out an assassination. Intelligence experts now theorize that rogue CIA agents may have assembled a team of French mercenaries to assist Mafia gunmen in case Oswald failed in his mission.
In an earlier probe, Washington attorney Bernard Fensterwald Jr. gained access to classified CIA and FBI files that pointed to Souètre’s involvement. He expressed frustration, saying this evidence should have opened new avenues in the investigation, yet authorities blocked further inquiry.
Eyewitness reports and shocking admissions
In 1983, The National Enquirer uncovered testimony placing Souètre at Dealey Plaza, near the assassination site. Dr. Lawrence Alderson, a U.S. Army veteran and friend of Souètre, later told investigators that the FBI contacted him six weeks after the assassination and confirmed Souètre had arrived in Dallas the day before JFK was gunned down.
Souètre, who died in 2001, once admitted to being a suspect in an attempt to kill de Gaulle but denied any role in Kennedy’s assassination. He claimed it was another French officer who looked like him. However, records show he entered the U.S. under a false name just three days before JFK’s death.
Though long buried, these findings renew questions about whether Oswald truly acted alone — or was simply the fall guy in a more sinister plot.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.