Claim · E-008
Luis Elizondo: Maintains that the three Navy videos were released by the Department of Defense, that the DoD made the decision, and that he was not the one who gave the authorization; rules out any tricks or false pretenses.
Luis Elizondo · 2018 · Interview with Open Minds (2018) and with the KLAS-TV I-Team (April 29, 2019) (Interview)
Direct knowledge Sightings, video, sensors
Contradicted
The DoD (May 2019), the Navy (September 2019) and the AFOSI inquiry rule out an authorization for public release: the approved form covered only limited distribution.
- In support
- DOPSR approved the DD Form 1910 submitted by Elizondo (on August 24, 2017, according to KLAS), and AFOSI concluded in April 2018 that the videos were not classified; the New York Times wrote that the videos were released by AATIP.
- Against or denials
- The DD Form 1910 indicated as its purpose “Not for publication. Research and analysis ONLY”; the Pentagon (May 2, 2019) stated that only limited distribution was requested and approved and (June 2019) that TTSA and the New York Times were not authorized to publish them; the Navy (September 2019) stated that it had not released the videos to the public and had no record of requests for unlimited distribution in 2017; AFOSI found that the release authority would not have approved release to the media had it been informed. In officially releasing the three videos on April 27, 2020, the DoD wrote that they had already circulated following unauthorized releases in 2007 and 2017.
Sources
- KLAS-TV I-Team (George Knapp) – the Pentagon allegedly released the UFO videos, April 29, 2019 (press, pro-disclosure)
- The Black Vault – dossier on the DD Form 1910 and the DOPSR review of the three Navy videos (analysis)
- The Black Vault – the Navy confirms that the videos show UAP and were not authorized for public release, September 10, 2019 (analysis)
- The Black Vault – the Pentagon memoranda on Elizondo (resignation, AFOSI, videos), June 23, 2023 (analysis)
- Department of Defense, press release of April 27, 2020 on the release of the Navy videos (primary source)
On this site
People 1
Claims 5
- Luis Elizondo: Announces that To The Stars Academy intends to release previously unpublished footage from real U.S… Partly verified
- Luis Elizondo: Says he was very surprised to learn that To The Stars Academy had the Navy videos and that he did not know… Contradicted
- Luis Elizondo: Recounts that the Navy videos were released after a change to the authorization form that allowed their… Contradicted
- Luis Elizondo: Claims that the AFOSI investigation into the release of the three videos found no unauthorized disclosure on… Partly verified
- Luis Elizondo: Claims under oath that the GOFAST, GIMBAL and FLIR videos were part of the work of the AATIP program of… Partly verified
Inconsistencies 1
Documents 3
- The DD 1910 form with which Elizondo submitted the three Navy videos to DOPSR review Original available
- The Pentagon's press release of April 27, 2020 on the official release of the three Navy videos Original available
- AARO's Consolidated Annual Report on UAP for Fiscal Year 2025 Original available
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