DOD Releases “Verbal Legal Advisement” Given to UFO Whistleblower David Grusch

DOD Releases "Verbal Legal Advisement" Given to UFO Whistleblower David Grusch. Released August 4, 2025, via FOIA case 24-F-1138, filed by The Black Vault in April 2024. The document is available on Vault.FBI.gov and documents2.theblackvault.com. The Department of Defense Freedom of Information Division, 1155 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C., 20301-1155, dated March 21, 2024, addressed to Mr. John Greenewald, The Black Vault, Inc. This is a final response to your November 2, 2023 Freedom of Information Act request, a copy of which is enclosed for your convenience. We received your request on November 2, 2023, and assigned it FOIA case number 24-F-0266. We ask that you use this number when referring to your request. The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security, a component of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, conducted a search of their records systems and located 26 pages determined to be responsive to your request. Mr. Paul Plescow, Senior Intelligence Officer, in his capacity as an Initial Denial Authority, has determined that portions of the 26 responsive pages are exempt from release pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552 (b)(6), information which, if disclosed, would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of the personal privacy of individuals; and (b)(7)(E), which would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of law. Please note that we have considered the foreseeable harm standard when reviewing records and applying exemptions under the FOIA in the processing of this request. In this instance, fees for processing your request were below the threshold for requiring payment. Please note that fees may be assessed on future requests. On January 8th, 2024, a Memorandum for Record was created by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office regarding invitations to interview Mr. David Grusch. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office extended multiple invitations to Mr. Grusch for the purpose of conducting an oral history interview in support of the Congressionally directed Historical Record Report. Invitations, both direct and through intermediaries, to interview Mr. Grusch regarding his claimed knowledge of U.S. Government possession of extra-terrestrial material and reverse-engineering programs were met with negative results. The following attempts were made to encourage Mr. Grusch to provide information to AARO. Between June 8th, 2023, and June 13th, 2023, Director, AARO, in person, discussed AARO's authorities and encouraged contact with Mr. Grusch. On June 12th and 13th, 2023, Director, AARO, discussed with a Professional Staff Member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Mr. Grusch's refusal to speak with AARO. On June 26th, 2023, AARO staff contacted Interviewee (b)(6) and asked for Mr. Grusch's current telephone number so that an invitation could be extended to Mr. Grusch. Interviewee (b)(6) contacted Mr. Grusch on AARO's behalf, and an invitation was rebuffed by Mr. Grusch. On June 28th, 2023, Director, AARO, contacted a PSM with the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence after Mr. Grusch's appearance before Congress and asked for any information reported to Congress by Mr. Grusch that AARO may be able to verify. The Director also reminded the PSM of the agreement that if a witness expressed apprehension about coming to AARO, that AARO would send a staff member to Congressional spaces to record the information into the U.S. Government record in support of the HRR. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. For more information, visit storyflo.com. The canonical PDF of this document is available at https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/osd/24-F-0266.pdf.