AARO Invitations to Interview Mr. David Grusch

accordance with the law, and the tone of the interview would be friendly and non
confrontational, as are all AARO interviews.
F. On October 6th, 2023, AARO staff conducted a secure call and interview with Interviewee
l(bl(6l !and asked that he also encourage Mr. Grusch to agree to a secure interview so that Mr.
Grusch's cl~~ght be introduced into the U.S. Government record in support of the HRR.
lnterviewee~s known to be a close associate of Mr. Grosch.
G. During the previous several months, Director, AARO, asked a PSM with the U.S. Senate
Committee on Armed Services to encourage Mr. Grusch to provide information to AARO during
an official interview.
H. On November 101\ 2023, Mr. Grusch contacted AARO, at the urging of Congressional Staff
Members, and agreed to be interviewed in Arlington, VA on November 14th, 2024. AARO
provided Mr. Grusch with a memorandum from the Director ofSpecial Access Programs,
Department ofDefense that made it clear AARO is authorized to receive compartmented
information (Enclosure 1). Mr. Grusch was also told that AARO would obtain a similar
memorandum from the Director, Controlled Access Programs Office, Office ofthe Director of
National Intelligence.
I. On November 14th, 2023, Mr. Grusch failed to show at the agreed upon location and time for
an interview with AARO. Upon contacting Mr. Grosch, he stated that he is not convinced that
AARO is authorized to receive varying levels of classified and sensitive information.
J. On November 19th, 2023, AARO, again contacted Mr. Grusch via email and stated, «we invite
you to speak to AARO regarding any U.S. government programs or activities related to
unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) dating back to 1945. In accordance with the James
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, AARO is authorized to
receive any information related to UAP regardless ofclassification, and notwithstanding any
nondisclosure agreement you may have signed. We would be glad to meet with you in a SCIF so
that you could share information with us." This specific invitation was coordinated with the
Office ofGeneral Counsel, Department ofDefense. Mr. Grusch, again, declined the invitation
despite previously agreeing to an interview. And, again, Mr. Grusch cited various security
concerns that AARO is authorized to receive information ofany classification level regarding
UAP.
K. On January 8th, 2024, AARO provided Mr. Grusch with a memorandum from the Director,
Controlled Access Programs Office, Office of the Director of National Intelligence that states
AARO is authorized to receive information which is subject to a U.S. Government
Nondisclosure Agreement (Enclosure 2). AARO also informed Mr. Grosch that there is a
standing invitation to be interviewed by AARO regarding his claims ofUAP and U.S.
Government activity and events.
3. During interactions between AARO and Mr. Grusch from November 2023 to January 2024, it
became evident that Mr. Grosch had no intention of providing AARO with information regarding
his claims. This assessment stands despite the NOAA for FY 2023 and the enclosed
memorandums from the Department of Defense and the Office of the Director of National