Pentagon Scrutinizes Former Official's UFO Crash Retrieval Claims

Newly released Defense Department documents detail the Pentagon's internal review of a request from Christopher Mellon, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, to publish a message concerning alleged "recovered off-world technology." The records, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, reveal that Mellon's initial attempt to submit the material was rejected by a Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review (DOPSR) employee who labeled his package a "security threat," a detail not previously disclosed by Mellon. This incident highlights the sensitive nature of information related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) within government circles.

The 17 pages of documentation, released by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), cover DOPSR's handling of Mellon's submission from January to March 2024. The records show a process marked by repeated delays and increasing internal pressure, with direct involvement from the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which was tasked with coordinating the review. Mellon's January 19, 2024, email to DOPSR, included in the FOIA file, explicitly sought confirmation that the text message screenshot he intended to publish was not classified, referencing the earlier return of his mailed submission.

The approval for Mellon to release the message was finally granted on March 1, 2024. The Pentagon's meticulous review process underscores the government's cautious approach to public disclosures regarding UAP and alleged retrieval programs. This transparency, albeit compelled by FOIA, offers a rare glimpse into the bureaucratic hurdles involved when former officials attempt to share information on such highly sensitive topics.