Sirhan Sirhan Denied Parole by California Governor Newsom

Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan has been denied parole by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Governor Newsom has described the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy as one of the most notorious crimes in American history according to NPR. The governor also sees RFK as one of his political heroes. 

U.S. Senator and former U.S. Attorney General Kennedy was running for president on June 5, 1968. when he was assassinated in the kitchen pantry of the Ambassador Hotel by Sirhan Sirhan. This was right after Kennedy was announced the winner for the California Democratic primary. 

Sirhan was originally sentenced to death in 1969, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison once California outlawed the death penalty according to Reuters. 

Governor Newsom states in his decision that Sirhan Sirhan has changed his story about the day of RFK’s death multiple times, and it makes him an ultimate danger to society. During his trial, and subsequent times afterward, he claims he was drunk, or he didn’t feel responsible past the first shot. 

During his 1989 parole hearing Sirhan, who is Palestinian, claimed the only reason he killed Senator Kennedy was because of his support for the country of Israel. In 1989 to the present day, Sirhan claims he has no recollections of the crime, believes himself to be innocent according to case briefings he has read, and has portrayed himself as the victim according to Governor Newsom’s decision. 

Governor Newsom says Sirhan poses an unreasonable danger to society, and despite his over half-century imprisonment, has not developed the insight to mitigate the danger which would come with releasing him. The governor has also stated that his release could incite further political violence.

RFK’s widow, Ethel Kennedy, 93, thanked Governor Newsom, saying they were deeply relieved in a joint statement. The original decision by the parole board last August to free Sirhan bitterly divided the Kennedy family according to the Associated Press. Two of RFK’s sons, Robert Kennedy Jr., and Douglas Kennedy supported his release and the decision of the parole board. RFK’s widow and their siblings.

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