Associated Investigator's Report #1: The Fund for CIA Research? or Who's Disinforming Whom?

This report, issued by the Associated Investigators Group, presents a critical examination of the relationship between Dr. Bruce Maccabee, a prominent member of the Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The authors contend that Maccabee has maintained a long-standing, secret relationship with the CIA since 1979, which they argue constitutes a significant conflict of interest and has negatively impacted the credibility of UFO research. The report details Maccabee's briefings at CIA headquarters, specifically mentioning his contact, Ron Pandolfi, and his role in discussing sensitive topics such as the 'MJ-12' group, the Roswell incident, and various purported UFO films. The authors allege that Maccabee's influence led to the suppression of legitimate research efforts, such as a proposal by Todd Zechel to pursue FOIA requests for 15,000 UFO-related documents, while simultaneously supporting questionable projects like the Gulf Breeze case and the 'Guardian' case. A significant portion of the report is dedicated to exposing the 'MJ-12' hoax, which the authors attribute to the collaborative efforts of Bill Moore and AFOSI agent Richard Doty. They describe how Moore and Doty utilized disinformation tactics to manipulate researchers and the public, often involving individuals like Paul Bennewitz, whose mental health struggles were exploited. The report highlights the 'sordid history' of these individuals and criticizes Maccabee for his continued association with them, suggesting that his actions may have been influenced by his CIA contacts to keep serious UFO investigations out of the public domain. Furthermore, the report discusses the removal of Larry Bryant from the Fund for UFO Research, framing it as another instance where Maccabee prioritized his CIA relationship over his professional associations. The authors conclude by calling for the Fund for UFO Research to sever its ties with the intelligence community and for its members to take responsibility for the organization's direction. The report characterizes the current state of ufology as being plagued by hoaxes and misinformation, exacerbated by the lack of critical judgment among leading figures, and advocates for a more rigorous, independent approach to investigating government involvement in UFO phenomena.