America’s Untold Stories: Mark Lane from JFK Assassination to Jonestown, James Earl Ray, & Paul McCartney
In this revealing follow-up to their deep dive into the life of Mark Lane, Mark Groubert and Eric Hunley continue exploring the many chapters of one of the most controversial, fearless, and complex figures in 20th-century American legal and political history.
Mark Lane is best known for Rush to Judgment, his groundbreaking book that publicly challenged the Warren Commission’s conclusions about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But Lane’s career extended far beyond the pages of that explosive work. He repeatedly inserted himself into some of the most charged and politically radioactive moments of the last century — and often stood where few others dared.
In this episode, Groubert and Hunley uncover Lane’s lesser-known relationships and legal battles. His defense of James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., raised eyebrows nationwide. Was Lane seeking justice, publicity, or uncovering something deeper in the official narrative? The questions continue decades later.
The story expands into his controversial ties to Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. Lane represented the group in the lead-up to the Jonestown massacre — a relationship that has haunted his legacy. What was Lane thinking? What did he know?
But the contradictions don’t stop there. Lane’s work defending James Joseph Richardson — a poor Black man falsely imprisoned for the poisoning deaths of his own children — speaks to a radically different chapter in his career. Lane’s involvement helped lead to Richardson’s release after more than 20 years behind bars, a major vindication in one of the most egregious wrongful convictions in American history.
Mark Lane also put himself on the line at the Wounded Knee standoff in 1973, siding with the American Indian Movement during a tense 71-day siege against federal forces. Lane’s advocacy on behalf of Native Americans highlighted his consistent — if controversial — willingness to challenge federal power on behalf of the disenfranchised.
And then there’s the personal. Lane shared a home with actress and activist Jane Fonda during a time when both were lightning rods for political outrage. He also maintained a surprising connection to Paul McCartney — adding yet another unexpected layer to a life that defies easy definition.
From celebrity connections to courtroom crusades, armed standoffs to assassinations, Mark Lane’s story is not easily summed up — and that’s exactly why it matters. Join Groubert and Hunley as they trace the wide-ranging impact of a man who repeatedly collided with power, challenged the establishment, and never stopped pushing for his version of the truth.
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