There was nothing normal about the whole movement that MLK Jr led. He presented himself as a holy man while participating in rape.
His close advisors included major organizers of the Communist Party. And this was at the height of the Cold War. The steelman argument for the FBI's decision is that it faced an extraordinary threat to national security in the person of MLK and resorted to extraordinary measures to try to neutralize that threat. And as far as the FBI went there were certainly lines that the FBI wouldn't cross.
There are also, of course, very strong arguments against the FBI's covert action against King, and those are well-known.
His close advisors included major organizers of the Communist Party. And this was at the height of the Cold War. The steelman argument for the FBI's decision is that it faced an extraordinary threat to national security in the person of MLK and resorted to extraordinary measures to try to neutralize that threat. And as far as the FBI went there were certainly lines that the FBI wouldn't cross.
There are also, of course, very strong arguments against the FBI's covert action against King, and those are well-known.