In the first HSCA interview with James Earl Ray Chief Counsel Richard Sprague agrees with Ray and his legal team that all materials (including CIA, FBI and other intelligence files) should be made available to them as well as the the committee. Ray and his legal team believed the files would produce evidence of a conspiracy in connection with Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Shortly afterward Sprague was forced to resign (fired) his post.

New HSCA sound recordings reveal James Earl Ray's request for release of the CIA, FBI and other investigative and intelligence files in connection with his role in Martin Luther King's assassination. He further asks for files of the SELECT COMMITTEE TO STUDY GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES called the Church Committee and points out that many files that would be useful in the investigation had been destroyed.

Chief Counsel Richard Sprague is heard saying that he too believes all CIA, FBI and other files having anything to do with the entire matter (MLK and JFK's assassination) should be made available to the committee and Ray's legal team.

James Earl Ray, Attorneys Jack and Mary Kershaw and Gary Revel-Special Investigator believed the files would produce evidence of a US Government-Organized Crime conspiracy in connection with Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Shortly afterward Sprague was forced to resign (fired).