On June 5, 2023, veteran national security journalists Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal published in The Debrief what became the most significant UAP disclosure story since the 2017 New York Times AATIP revelation: “Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin.”
The article introduced David Charles Grusch, 36, a decorated combat veteran and former intelligence officer at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Grusch had served as the NRO’s representative to the UAP Task Force from 2019-2021, and as the NGA’s co-lead for UAP analysis from late 2021 to July 2022.
What Grusch Told Congress and the IC IG
Grusch provided Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General with extensive classified information about deeply covert programs he says possess retrieved intact and partially intact craft of non-human origin. He alleged this information had been illegally withheld from Congress. He filed a whistleblower complaint alleging illegal retaliation against him for his disclosures.
The IC IG, after reviewing Grusch’s complaint and classified evidence, designated the matter “urgent and credible” — the highest possible designation — and referred it to Congress. That designation triggered the Congressional hearing on July 26, 2023 at which Grusch testified under oath.
Corroborating Sources
The Kean/Blumenthal article confirmed that other intelligence officials — both active and retired — with knowledge of these programs through their work in various agencies had independently provided similar corroborating information, both on and off the record. This was not a single source story. Multiple independent IC officials confirmed the same essential claim: the US government possesses recovered non-human craft.
What Changed After Publication
The Debrief article went global within hours. Congressional leaders held emergency briefings. The July 26, 2023 hearing followed. The IC IG referral to FBI of the Matthew Sullivan death came directly from the credibility established by Grusch’s disclosure. The entire modern UAP disclosure architecture — PURSUE, the 162 files released May 8, 2026, Rep. Burlison’s working group — traces directly to the moment Kean and Blumenthal published this story.
The original article remains at: thedebrief.org/intelligence-officials-say-u-s-has-retrieved-non-human-craft/
Source: The Debrief, Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal, June 5, 2023. IC IG designation: urgent and credible.