AARO records on attempts to engage with Grusch (FOIA 24-F-0266)

January 8th,
2024
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office Invitations to
Interview
Mr. David Grusch
1.
The
All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office
(AARO)
extended multiple invitations to Mr.
David Grusch for the purpose
of
conducting
an
oral
history
interview
in support
of
the
Congressionally directed Historical Record Report (HRR).
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.
2.
The following attempts were made,
by
Director,
AARO and staff, to
encourage
Mr. Grusch to
provide information to
AARO,
on the
record, and
in an appropriately secure environment. TheJames
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act
for
Fiscal Year 2023 authorizes AARO to
receive reporting about U.S. Government activities
and events related to Unidentified
Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), regardless
of
classification level
or
compartmentalization
of
the
information.
A. Between
June 8
th
,
2023 and
June 13
th
,
2023, Director, AARO en
Person
(b)(6)
regarding
AARO's
authorities and encouraged Perso
contact AAR
.
Note that Perso
Ns)
s
a known close associate
omade
it
clear that Person
(
))(6)
was
in
contact
with Mr. Grusch.
ed
in
a
dialog
with
o
have Mr. Grusch
sch and the dialog
(b)(6)
B. On June 12
th
and
13
th
,
2023, Director, AARO, discussed with a Professional
Staff
Member
(PSM)
of
the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Mr. Grusch's refusal to speak with
AARO. The PSM stated that
he would contact Mr. Grusch and request Mr. Grusch's
email
address. The PSM made the offer after the Director made it clear that AARO did not have Mr.
Grusch's
contact information.
C.
On June 26
th
,
2023, AARO
staff
contacted Interviewee
(b)(6)
d asked for Mr.
Grusch'scurrent telephone number so that an invitation could
be
exten• to Mr.
Grusch. Interviewee
(b)(6)
contacted Mr. Grusch on AARO's behalf and an invitation was rebuffed by Mr. Grusch.
D.
On June 28
th
,
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.
E.
On July 27
th
,
2023, AARO staff conducted an interview of Interviewee
(b)(6)
'who
revealed
that he would be having dinner with Mr. Grusch the following day. AARO staff, to include the
Director, asked Interviewee
(b)(6)
to invite Mr. Grusch to contact AARO for an interview.
AARO staff made it clear that the interview would be conducted in a secure facility, in