Person
Daniel Lavelle
Guardian journalist; author of the critical book “Chasing Aliens” (2026)
2024– · Critics and skeptics · Journalist
A Guardian journalist, in March 2024 he interviewed the former director of AARO Sean Kirkpatrick, reading him the names of Knapp, Elizondo, Corbell, Mellon and Stratton as possible members of the small group of believers: Kirkpatrick confirmed none of them. In 2026 he published with Penguin the book “Chasing Aliens,” which criticizes Elizondo for resorting to the most extreme hypotheses.
Documented authority
It measures how documented and verifiable what the person claims is, not their honesty. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 2.
- Credentials 2/2
- The Guardian interview and the book published by Penguin are documented.
- Direct access not applicable
- Not applicable: does not claim direct knowledge of the facts; reports sources or documents.
- Evidence provided not applicable
- Not applicable: does not advance claims of their own on UAP facts.
- Claims track record not applicable
- The sources consulted do not trace the outcome of any verifiable claims made by this person.
- Conflicts of interest 1/2
- He is the author of a critical book on the topic, a declared professional interest.
Sources
- Transcript of Kirkpatrick's interview with the Guardian (Daniel Lavelle), March 2024 (Metabunk) (analysis, skeptical)
- Wikipedia – Luis Elizondo (other)
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UAPgrade's entries are compiled with artificial intelligence (three verifiers with opposing roles) and checked against the sources listed above: how we work. Have a document that changes this entry? Bring it to the Investigations Unit.