COINTELPRO was the FBI's secret, illegal program designed to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" anyone who challenged the racial status quo.

As one FBI assistant director later testified: "No holds were barred."

They wiretapped King's home. Bugged his hotel rooms. And in 1964, mailed him an anonymous letter trying to push him toward suicide 34 days before he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tomorrow is MLK Day. The FBI will post tributes without ever apologizing.