Document · D-026

The AARO memorandum on the attempts to hear from Grusch

AARO Memorandum for Record on engagement with Mr. David Grusch, January 8, 2024 (FOIA 24-F-0266)

AARO – Department of Defense · Jan 8, 2024 · USA · Memorandum

What it contains

The memorandum lists AARO's attempts at contact between June and October 2023, through Grusch's acquaintances and Senate committee staff. It reports that on November 10, 2023 Grusch agreed to an interview in Arlington for November 14, but did not show up, saying he was not convinced that AARO was authorized to receive certain classified information, and that on November 19 he declined a new invitation. It concludes that “it became evident that Mr. Grusch had no intention of providing AARO with information”; the FOIA response also contains memos from the DoD SAP office and the ODNI according to which AARO may receive compartmented information or information covered by nondisclosure agreements.

What it shows and what it does not

It is AARO's documented version: repeated contacts and a scheduled meeting that was missed. Grusch disputes it, maintaining that he was officially contacted only in November 2023 and that an email of his of January 8, 2024 went unanswered; the memorandum does not record what guarantees he asked for or the content of the information he says he gave to the ICIG and to Congress.

How it came to light

Released to The Black Vault through FOIA request 24-F-0266 (final response of March 21, 2024) and published on April 18, 2024.

The document

Open the document (documents2.theblackvault.com)

Sources

1. NewsNation, May 3, 2024 – Grusch's reply to the FOIA documents (press)
2. The Black Vault, April 18, 2024 – AARO's repeated attempts to hear from Grusch (analysis)

On this site

People 3

• David Grusch
• Sean Kirkpatrick
• Christopher Mellon

Claims 2

• David Grusch: Calls inaccurate the statement by AARO director Sean Kirkpatrick that there is no credible evidence, reports… Disputed
• David Grusch: Claims that AARO contacted him officially only in November 2023, that his email of January 8, 2024 with… Disputed

Inconsistencies 1

• David Grusch: Contacts with AARO: the AARO memo and Grusch's version

Official positions 1

• AARO (Department of Defense) (2024): In a memorandum for the record, AARO concluded that Grusch did not intend to provide the…

Timeline 2

• Apr 18, 2024: FOIA documents: AARO tried several times to hear from Grusch
• Jul 27, 2023: Kirkpatrick: the central source of the allegations refused to speak with AARO

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