The UFO Whistleblower Hearing V.J. Ballester Olmos , Chris Aubeck , Julio Plaza del Olmo The United States Congress's House Oversight Committee was established "to ensure the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the federal government and all its agencies. Within its structure is the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs. This subcommittee decided to convene a UFO hearing, suggesting that national security, public safety, and government transparency are at stake. Rumors of pressure from Pentagon brass against the hearing, NASA officials pulling out, AARO rejecting participation, and potential witnesses not clearing their political backgrounds with the Committee's investigator's check, overshadowed the preliminary proceedings of the meeting. We don't know whether to label it as ridiculous or shameful. Under the guise of a bipartisan initiative, the real scenario is a group of mostly Republican politicians seemingly trying to undermine the Democrat administration, using the tenuous pretext of UFOs this time around. Whether they are naive, misinformed, driven by ideology, or simply gullible remains unclear. Three individuals testified on July 26, 2023, before those United States Congress lawmakers. Two of them, D. Fravor and R. Graves, have extensively discussed their UFO experiences on TV shows and in interviews over the years. The third, D. Grusch, has recently risen to media prominence with a slew of sensationaland certainly fantasticalclaims. So, the immediate and pressing question is: did they reveal anything new? The simple answer is no. Matter-of-factly, all that effort was pointless. To begin with, what was the intention of this hearing? First and foremost, it was an attempt to highlight alleged secrecy and lack of transparency by the U.S. Government on the UFO subject. UFO FOTOCAT Project: hp://fotocat.blogspot.com/ Corresponding author:
[email protected] Author, Wonders in the Sky (with Jacques Valle), Alien Ar/facts From An/quity to 1880 Research physicist hps://oversight.house.gov/about/ hps://oversight.house.gov/subcommiee/na/onal-security/ Ma Laslo, Ask A Pol website For example, here is an extract from the introduc/on by Mr. Glenn Grothman, Chairman (R-WI): ...despite these offices being established [AARO and the NASA independent study], there lies a pressing demand for government transparency and accountability ... The Biden administra/on handling of the Chinese spy balloon that violated US. Air space is one example how the government is not prepared for these. The Biden Administra/ons descrip/on of events has shown that the government con/nues not to be forthright ... Yet we have seen lile clarity from the Biden administra/on. We must demand transparency from the Department of Defense, our intelligent community, and our defense industry on the UAP work. Hearing online viewing: hps://oversight.house.gov/hearing/uniden/fied-anomalous-phenomena-implica/ons- on-na/onal-security-public-safety-and-government-transparency/ Hearing transcript: hps://picdataset.com/ai-news/full-transcript-of-subcommiee-hearing-on-uniden/fied- anomalous-phenomena/ Then, to excite the audience of the pro-UFO movement by affirming that UFOs (UAP as they are called today, after the terms flying saucer and UFO lost their novelty) persistently pose threats to US national security. The UFO narrative has been in the spotlight in the last few years in the United States, and the topic generates interest, with critiques of the Governments cover-up being particularly palatable to the public. The two-hour and 17-minute hearing can be summarized as follows: (1) Retired US Navy Commander and longtime UFO enthusiast, David Fravor, once again detailed his first-hand, well-known UFO sighting on November 14, 2004, while dispatched from the USS Nimitz carrier, 110 miles off San Diego, California. He described a "tic-tac" shaped UFO that moved in a way that baffled aviators. Infrared airborne footage related to this event was released in 2017. The footage was initially claimed to demonstrate unusual flight characteristics, such as sharp acceleration. However, experts have since dismissed these claims and assessed the object in the video as likely being a conventional aircraft. (2) Former military pilot Ryan Graves was flying an F-18 near Jacksonville, Florida on January 21, 2015, operating from the USS Roosevelt carrier, when another of the three infamous Navy UAP FLIR videos was captured, colloquially referred to as Gimbal. The footage displays a peculiar rotation of the target that puzzled the pilots. However, experts have shown this rotation to be an artifact of the gimbal mechanism used for tracking the target, and they believe the footage merely depicts a conventional aircraft. Graves did not record this video, as he was in a different plane at the time, but he claims to have seen the fleet of UFOs when viewing recorded video on the radar screen, some time after the incident. Furthermore, he has reported a few second-hand sightings of UFOs that resemble a black cube enclosed in a transparent sphere. During his testimony, which was replete with second-hand accounts, he shared that a colleague once nearly collided with a UFO. J. Plaza del Olmo, The FLIR1 Video, hps://www.academia.edu/45588364/The_FLIR1_video Mick West, Nimitz FLIR1 /c tac UFO video No Sudden Moves!, hps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1di0XIa9RQ Luke M. Herrington, CuUng the Chaff: Overlooked Lessons of Military UAP Sigh/ngs for Joint Force and Interagency Coordina/on, Na/onal Defense University Press, July 7, 2023, hps://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/News-Ar/cle-View/Ar/cle/3447233/cuUng-the-chaff-overlooked-lessons- of-military-uap-sigh/ngs-for-joint-force/ hps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimbal Mick West, Gimbal UFO A new analysis, hps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsEjV8DdSbs On the same day, during the COMPTUEX military exercise, another U.S. Navy pilot captured video footage of a different UFO, later named Go Fast. During NASAs UAP live-streamed mee/ng in May 2023, Dr. Joshua Semeter, a professor of computer engineering and director of the Center for Space Physics at Boston University, analyzed the footage. Contrary to the ini/al belief that the object was flying low and fast, Dr. Semeter concluded that it was actually at a high al/tude and moving slowly, characteris/cs consistent with a balloon. Refer to: V.J. Ballester Olmos and Chris Aubeck, The Needle in the Haystack: Reflec/ons on the NASA UAP Mee/ng, May 2023 hps://www.academia.edu/103389571/The_Needle_in_the_Haystack_Reflec/ons_on_the_NASA_UAP_Mee/ng_ Experience in factual UFO investigation has repeatedly shown the following sequence: a pilot reports encountering a UFO during flight. Many, wrongly assuming that pilots are exceptional observers, are left stunned. Indeed, when a pilot with countless hours in advanced fighter jets recounts an event of such scale and apparent drama, it resonates strongly, particularly to laypeople. But when the sighting undergoes thorough and impartial scrutiny, the object often gets identified as an airplane, balloon, drone, bird, or planet. The pilot or the equipment simply erred. It's undeniable that individuals from all walks of lifefarmers, clergy, military personnel, and so onobserve objects or lights in the sky they cannot identify, usually due to their limited knowledge or other causes. Pilots are no exception; they can both mis-observe and misreport. Over 1,300 UFO sightings by pilots are recorded in the annals of ufology. However, dispassionate research proves that well-documented and properly briefed air encounters tend to lead to full rational explanations, or reasonably match naturally occurring phenomena or man-made objects. Those that remain debatable are likely due to a lack of comprehensive information. For example, the latest examination of the most comprehensive database of airborne UFO sightings, where 55 cases were meticulously reviewed, produced the following findings: Explanation Number ASTRONOMICAL SPACE REENTRY BARIUM CLOUD (3) David Grusch, a former intelligence officer, member of the UAP Task Force from 2019 and ... from 2021 to April 2023 at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, allegedly reporting to the UAPTF and AARO. Recently, Grusch has shot to media fame by amazing claims such as that the United States possesses several extraterrestrial craft resulting from crashes and have been covertly reverse-engineering their technology for years. The current hearing was keenly awaited, with bated breath, as many wondered what new details he might divulge to the congressmen and congresswomen, eagerly assembled for this very testimony, in the company of two opening acts? On a side note, Grusch was backed-up by two fellow guardians of the faith: George T. Knapp, an American television journalist, conspiracy theorist and believer in the paranormal, and Jeremy Corbell, a documentary filmmaker who accessed UFO footage leaked from the Tim Printy, The Weinstein Catalog: Ufological Bullion or Fools Gold? in V.J. Ballester- Olmos & Richard W. Heiden (eds.), The Reliability of UFO Witness Tes/mony, UPIAR (Turin), 2023, hp://www.upiar.com/index.cfm?artID=201 Surprisingly, this employment at the UAPTF is not included in his bio: hps://docs.house.gov/mee/ngs/GO/GO06/20230726/116282/HHRG-118-GO06-Bio-GruschD-20230726.pdf U.S. Navys UAPTF (2018-2020), DoDs UAPTF (Aug 2020-2021), DoDs AOIMSG (Nov 2021-2022), and DoDs AARO (July 2022 to date). UAPTF, promptly broadcasted as evidence of extraterrestrial presence, only to be later debunked by down-to-earth analysts The core of his declaration is the existence of a multi decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program in the United States, to which very conveniently he was denied access when requested it. He stated he had personal knowledge of people harmed or injured in efforts to cover up extraterrestrial technology, but when pressed for details by Anna P. Luna (R-FL), he simply talked about concerns based on the interviews I conducted. Grusch affirmed he personally suffered retaliation because of his decision to report to his superiors. When cross-examined, he described it as brutal and very unfortunate. He avoided elaborating so as not to compromise a whistleblower investigation against him that was underway. However, he noted the existence of an active, planned reprisal activity against myself ... from certain senior leadership at previous agencies I was associated with, which he called administrative terrorism. also shared the belief that people had been murdered by concealing alien secrets, and said: I directed people with that knowledge to the appropriate authorities. [Our emphasis] Additionally, he mentioned hostile activity caused by alien technology to humans. He reiterated his vague claim about the Governments multidecade campaign to disenfranchise public interest in UFOs. Grusch labeled his belief that the Government is in possession of UAPs as absolute (based on ... interviewing over 40 witnesses over four years.) He applied the term non- human to alleged U.S. Government awareness of alien evidence occurring since the 1930s (incidentally, this is something that scholarly ufologists had written off as a fake years ago.) Particularly, when Nancy Mace (R-SC) naively asked if we have the bodies of pilots of this craft, he affirmed that biologics came with some of these recoveries. Yeah ...Non-human, and that was the assessment of people ...I talked to that are currently still on the program. [Our emphasis] Grusch also presented theoretical arguments to offset the awkward issue of saucer , raised by Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO) during an excellent interrogation: multi dimensionality ... the framework ... called the Holographic Principle. It both derives itself from general relativity and quantum mechanics ... you can be projected from higher dimensional space to lower dimensional. Clearly, this individual is deeply immersed in The influence of these people on some congressmens background is profoundly alarming. From the statement by Mr. Tim Burche (R-TN): I know I saw it in the crowd there. George Knapp. My buddy. Jeremy Corbell. Theyre not witnesses, but theyve provided some statements on this subject. And I seek unanimous consent to enter those statements into the record. From our perspec/ve, the informa/on provided to the House seems dangerously biased. Compare the opposite treatment received by the two pilots (actual UFO witnesses) and Mr. Grusch. At the ques/on by Mr. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Oversight Commiee: Can you describe your experience a[er you decided to come forward and go public with your experience? Graves simply decided to report his own experience without any further problem, and Fravor was treated very well. Only a s/gma for liars? Giuseppe S/lo, Fascis/ su Marte, UFO, August 2003, pp 32-39, hp://www.cisu.org/files-ufo-fascis/-no-grazie/ English transla/on: hp://www.cisu.org/fascist-ufo-files-no-thank-you/ Massimiliano Grandi, "I "files fascis/" soo esame, UFO, July 2004, pp. 44-47, hp://www.cisu.org/files-ufo- fascis/-il-parere-dellarchivista/ English transla/on: hp://www.cisu.org/fascist-ufo-files-a-professional-archivists- the concepts found in hypothetically speculative papers produced by the AAWSAP. person is materially living in Wonderland! Few specifics can be found in Gruschs discourse, which conveniently shields him from direct rebuttal. However, he did mention something about saucer recoveries that can be ascertained or refutable: the recoveries predate a lot of our advanced programs. From our perspective, the overarching tone of the majority of Republican comments was one of credulity, likely swayed by recent media narratives. For us, the standout portion of the hearing was when Mr. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) stepped in, bringing a higher level of rigor and skepticism to the proceedings. He presented pointed questions that could get Grusch into trouble if his replies were finally proved false. Grusch found a way out, though, by frequently claiming that the information in question was confidential. For instance: Q: ... have you met with people with direct knowledge ... of non-human origin craft? A: Yes, I personally interviewed those individuals. [Our emphasis] Q: ... have you met with people with direct knowledge ... about advanced technologies that the US. Government has? A: I was briefed to the preponderance of the Defense Departments, both space and aerospace compartment of programs. Q: Do you have knowledge that there are programs in the advanced tech space that are unsanctioned? A: Yes, I do. Q: ...when you say that theyre above congressional oversight, what do you mean? A: Complicated question ... theres some I would call it abuse here ... congressional oversight of conventional special access programs. So Ill use title 10 ... However, the Gang of Eight is ... supposed to be notified if a ... unacknowledged SAP is created ... Q: I dont want to cut you off, but how does a program like that get funded? A: I will give you generalities. I can get very specific in a closed session. But misappropriation of funds, and, Q: does that mean that there is money in the budget that is said to go to a program, but it doesnt, and it goes to something else? Yes, I have specific knowledge of that. Do you think US Corporations are overcharging for certain tech theyre selling to the US. Government and that additional money is going to programs? Correct. Through something called IR&D. [Independent Research & Development] Lets talk about satellite imagery ... do you have direct knowledge ... that there are satellite imagery of these events? ... I personally reviewed both [at NGIA] what we call overhead collection and from other strategic and tactical platforms that were I could not even explain prosaically... ... Crash imagery? I cant discuss that in an open session. Do you have any information that the US government is involved in a disinformation campaign to deny the existence of certain UAPs? A: I cant go beyond what Ive already stated publicly in my News Nation interview because it touches other sensitivities. Gruschs prepared statement raised several questions, but his responses were consistently evasive, often resorting to a go-to phrase: I cant discuss that publicly (not A precursor to the UAPTF. DIAs Defense Warning Office, Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applica/on Program (AAWSAP, nicknamed AATIP) funded with $ 22 mils, outsourced to Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAAS), 2008-2012, an output of 38 Defense Intelligence Reference Documents (DIRD), hps://www.documentcloud.org/app?q=%2Bproject%3Adia-files-207723%20 to mention his pretentious style of replying to simple questions). His laconic responses often left an aura of mystery. Essentially, his main excuse for not divulging more information was that he could go to jail for revealing classified information, even though he had already discussed the matter in TV interviews. Examination of his testimony under oath reveals that it is based on information given to him by third parties. When asked whether he saw the spacecraft and the bodies, his answer was either non-committal or negative. He did not share any piece of the compelling evidence he claims to have received, and he did not name any sources, timing, or locations, either. We are confident this gentleman trusts his sources. However, we question the legitimacy of their claims and seriously doubt that his bold statements hold any merit. Notably, the legend of UFO crashes and alien bodies in the custody of the United States has been a longstanding narrative in UFO literature, filled with countless uncorroborated and unverified tales. On the oft-discussed topic of stigma, the three "witnesses" were specifically asked if they faced any repercussions from their superiors after reporting their encounters with a UAP. Both pilots Fravor and Graves answered No. Star witness Grusch had to reply: Ive actually never seen anything personally. A witness of what, then? Of hearsay and rumors, as will be proved when it is duly investigated. Reflecting on this hearing, one might have anticipated a more skeptical stance from the Congress representatives. Ideally, lawmakers should uphold a degree of discernment and criticality. However, they appeared merely to seek validation of the assertions already made by their "witnesses", seldom challenging or interrogating their statements. Whenever Grusch was pressed for detai