Summary
Highlights
Chief Wiggins, Mr. Borland, and Mr. Nusatelli discuss their initial beliefs about UFOs and their hesitation to come forward with their UAP encounters due to fear of reprimand or ostracism. Mr. Tully (Nusatelli) highlights the importance of documentation and the groundwork laid by others for public disclosure. Mr. Wiggins, a currently serving Navy member, mentions receiving clearance from the Navy, which gave him relief from potential reprisal. Mr. Borland recounts facing disciplinary action for his transparency, noting the highly sensitive national security nature of the information he disclosed. Mr. Knapp elaborates on why the federal government might refuse transparency, citing historical fear, institutionalized lying, national security concerns, and the race for technological advantage, suggesting a selective disclosure where UAP reality is acknowledged without compromising technological secrets.
Mr. Crane introduces a letter sent to the DoD regarding Major David Charles Grush, a UAP whistleblower who suffered reprisal including clearance removal and denial of promotion. He requests committee assistance to get a response from DoD. Representative Gil questions Mr. Knapp about the authenticity of UAP files obtained from the former Soviet government, which Knapp confirms were shared with the Senate Intelligence Committee and the DIA, with David Grush also corroborating their authenticity. Chief Wiggins emphasizes the need for clear reporting mechanisms for active-duty members and protection against reprisal, especially for junior personnel. The discussion highlights the struggles of legislative efforts like the Witness Protection Act and the UAP Disclosure Act, which face internal resistance within Congress and private corporations, indicating a significant challenge in extracting information after decades of secrecy.
Mr. Borland criticizes ARRO's public statements on extraterrestrial evidence, calling them a misrepresentation of the full truth due to their narrow definition of 'scientific evidence.' He states that ARRO requires 'scientific control,' implying a need to travel to other planets to acquire technology for comparison, which he finds misleading given existing UAP evidence. Mr. Perry questions Mr. Borland about whether his UAP sighting involved the U.S. government, to which he firmly believes it did, both then and now. Both Mr. Borland, Mr. Nusatelli, and Chief Wiggins confirm a lack of formal after-action reports or investigations into their significant UAP incidents, highlighting an unusual absence of institutional response despite the high stakes involved in their military operations.
Mr. Biggs criticizes government integrity, lack of transparency, and misuse of taxpayer funds regarding UAPs. He emphasizes the need to protect whistleblowers and restore public trust. Mr. Knapp explains his verification process for UAP whistleblowers, including checking credentials and seeking corroborating evidence. He expresses deep disappointment with ARRO's dismissive treatment of credible witnesses like Bob Jacobs and Bob Salis, suggesting ARRO acted as a counter-intelligence operation to discredit stories. Mr. Nusatelli confirms that official Air Force records of the Red Square incident are unclassified, but no physical effects were documented in base logs. Chief Wiggins confirms that unedited footage of his incident has been provided to Congress and that he was never instructed not to document or discuss the event. Mr. Borland indicates that information regarding the manipulation of his security clearance records, and the specifics that led him to mistrust ARRO, necessitating a classified 'skiff' meeting.
Mr. Begich questions Mr. Borland on the authority that restricts congressional access to UAP information, even in a skiff. Mr. Borland suggests consulting Director Gabbard, admitting he lacks full knowledge on the matter. Mr. Knapp cannot provide an estimated annual budget for UAP-related programs, highlighting the pervasive secrecy. When asked to name specific gatekeepers, Mr. Knapp mentions Dr. James Ryder at Lockheed and Glenn Gaffne from the CIA, explaining that contractors were instructed to lie about UAP activities. He notes the long-standing efforts to suppress information, despite the increasing public availability of UAP videos, as authorities continue to dismiss and discredit witnesses. Mr. Knapp acknowledges the growing bipartisan interest in the topic and commends the committee for its commitment to uncovering the truth, especially given past instances where Congress dropped the issue for decades.
The Chairwoman explains that the task force needs to go through the full committee to issue subpoenas. She also announces a motion to ask for immunity for Mr. Borland and other whistleblowers so they can testify in a classified setting (skiff) without fear of Espionage Act violations, acknowledging the limitations of the task force's authority. Mr. Knapp reveals that only about 1% of the alleged Russian crash retrieval documents he submitted were previously public, indicating the vast majority is new information. He also details the 'Thread 3' program, a Soviet initiative to investigate UAPs to potentially reverse-engineer their technology. A video is played, depicting an object splitting a Hellfire missile, baffling the witnesses present.
Mr. Nusatelli, Chief Wiggins, and Mr. Borland confirm that no known U.S. government technology can replicate the missile-splitting and continued movement demonstrated in the video. Mr. Borland prefers to discuss his knowledge of such capabilities in a classified setting. The video's unsettling nature is acknowledged by most, with Mr. Knapp expressing curiosity rather than fear. Chief Wiggins clarifies that he was in the CIC with multiple colleagues when he observed the UAP on screen, and the sighting spread among watchstanders but not throughout the entire ship. He explains that Navy personnel are trained for deliberate operations, which typically involve after-action reviews, but none were conducted for his UAP incident. Mr. Nusatelli explains that objects the size of a football field or larger were observed during these incidents, with 500 Air Force police officers guarding one critical launch, yet they were powerless to prevent the UAP incursions.
Chief Wiggins clarifies that the object he witnessed came from the water, although he couldn't see it glowing underwater due to darkness and distance, but believes it submerged and then surfaced. Mr. Knapp discusses an agreement between Russia and the U.S. to report unidentified objects over sensitive sites, confirming diplomatic exchanges between Reagan and Gorbachev regarding potential external threats. He validates the sensitivity of Russian missile system vulnerabilities and recounts an incident where UFOs de-activated ICBMs, leading Russians to change their standing order to 'leave them alone.' Mr. Ogles questions the witnesses on what evidence they would present to the American people to start their UAP journey. Mr. Knapp and Chief Wiggins point to the new video footage and the sheer volume of recorded sightings, arguing against dismissing all as fake. They highlight the paper trail of declassified documents, such as General Nathan Twining's memo, as undeniable proof that UAPs are real, not ours, and technologically superior. Mr. Borland cites Bob Lazar’s discredited claims but undeniable knowledge of test flights, underscoring the government's efforts to manipulate public perception concerning extraterrestrials.
Mr. Borland asserts that ARRO's public statements are a 'manipulation of the public perception,' using the narrow definition of 'scientific evidence of extraterrestrials' to obscure the truth without technically lying. Mr. Knapp agrees, calling it 'splitting hairs,' emphasizing that the origin of UAPs (extraterrestrial, non-human intelligence, or something else) is still unknown. He draws a parallel to the difficulty of understanding advanced UAP technology, comparing it to presenting a modern motorcycle to Pilgrims. Mr. Knapp further highlights how the stigma surrounding UAPs prevents top scientists from working on the issue in the U.S., unlike in Russia and China. Mr. Nusatelli confirms that his base's UAP encounters, similar to Russian incidents, involved objects visiting installations and leaving, with no clear response strategy from authorities. He emphasizes that he and many others were witnesses to these incidents, including one where 500 Air Force police officers guarded a launch that was still susceptible to UAP incursions.
Mr. Burles expresses frustration on behalf of the American people and the committee over government secrecy regarding UAPs, emphasizing the need for action, specifically passing the UAP Whistleblower Act and Disclosure Act. The Chairwoman and Mr. Burchett reiterate the importance of bipartisan efforts to achieve transparency and accountability, thanking the witnesses for their courage. The Chairwoman highlights the widespread UAP sightings across the U.S. and the need for investigative inquiry. She requests Mr. Spielberger's organization to endorse the Whistleblower Protection Act. Mr. Burchett thanks the committee members for their courage and collaboration in addressing the UAP issue and acknowledges the ongoing nature of the fight for total disclosure. The hearing concludes with a strong call for truth, transparency, and accountability from the government regarding UAPs.