The mafia isn't exonerated. I haven't yet read any of the released files on the JFK hit, but one thing reported on the news about one of the revelations from the declassified files was that the CIA at that time wanted to use the mafia to assassinate Fidel Castro. Therefore they were hit men in the government's employ.
"For us, rubbin'out a Mustache was just like makin' way for a new building, like we was in the construction business."
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