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15
10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles R. Work.md
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@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
---
category: "Law Enforcement & Legal"
created: 2024-04-25
updated: 2026-05-01
updated: 2026-10-12
tags:
- Person
- PROMIS
- INSLAW
- Lawyer
- DoJ
summary: "Charles R. Work was Deputy Chief of the DC U.S. Attorney's Office Superior Court Division who co-directed the original PROMIS design team with Joan E. Jacoby and project manager Bill Hamilton in 1969, then served as Deputy Administrator of LEAA from 1973 to 1975 where he continued funding INSLAW and PROMIS expansion."
summary: "Charles R. Work co-directed the 1969 PROMIS design team in the DC U.S. Attorney's Office, then served as Deputy Administrator of LEAA from 1973 to 1975."
born: 1940-06-21
location: "Glendale, California"
---
@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ In 1966, Work became an Assistant United States Attorney in the criminal trial s
In 1969, while serving as Deputy Chief of the Superior Court Division, Work co-directed the original [[PROMIS]] design team commissioned by U.S. Attorney [[Thomas A. Flannery]], alongside [[Joan E. Jacoby]] (Director of the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]]) and project manager [[Bill Hamilton]] (then a senior consultant at [[Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co]]). The team produced the Prosecutor's Management Information System, deployed January 1, 1971, in the DC U.S. Attorney's Office. Work hired INSLAW to write the first version of PROMIS and maintained a close working relationship with Hamilton through the program's early years.[^3]
A May 1971 overview of PROMIS prepared by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co for the Office of Crime Analysis under LEAA grant 70-DF-047 records that the design team was headed by Joan E. Jacoby, director of the Office of Crime Analysis, and Work, deputy director of the Superior Court Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office.[^4] A 1985 White House announcement lists Work as Deputy Chief and Chief of the Superior Court Division from 1969 to 1973 and as Deputy Administrator of LEAA from 1973 to 1975, and a White House release of January 26, 1976 records that he resigned effective November 21, 1975.[^5] In April 1973 the executive director of the National District Attorneys Association described PROMIS as developed by Jacoby and Work, "assistant U.S. attorney," under a $290,000 LEAA grant.[^6]
### LEAA Deputy Administrator
In 1973, Work became Deputy Administrator of the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] via Presidential nomination by [[Richard Nixon]] and Senate confirmation, a position he held until 1975. In that capacity, he continued funding [[INSLAW]] and promoting PROMIS adoption through both direct grants and the [[National Center for Prosecution Management]]. Following Nixon's resignation, Work maintained close personal relationships with Ford administration officials and worked to encourage the incoming administration to sustain LEAA's crime-fighting programs.[^2]
@ -28,17 +30,20 @@ In 1973, Work became Deputy Administrator of the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistan
In 1975, Work became a partner at Peabody, Lambert & Meyers. In 1983, he moved to McDermott, Will & Emery, where he served as Partner-in-Charge of the DC office through 1997.[^1] He served as a former president of the D.C. Bar and in 1978 received the Rockefeller Public Service Award for Administering Justice and Reducing Crime.
In 1985, President [[Ronald Reagan]] appointed him a member of the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, the body that reappoints and disciplines DC judges.[^4]
In 1985, President [[Ronald Reagan]] appointed him a member of the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, the body that reappoints and disciplines DC judges.[^7]
Work was appointed by the United States District Court as guardian ad litem of Vietnamese orphans who survived a plane crash in Saigon in 1975.
### INSLAW Litigation
During INSLAW's litigation against the [[Department of Justice]], Work served as co-lead counsel for INSLAW, bringing his knowledge of the program's origins and his prior relationship with [[Bill Hamilton]] to the company's defense.[^3]
During INSLAW's litigation against the [[Department of Justice]], Work served as co-lead counsel for INSLAW, bringing his knowledge of the program's origins and his prior relationship with Bill Hamilton to the company's defense.[^3]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Atlantic Legal Foundation. Charles R. Work - Director Biography. atlanticlegal.org.
[^2]: Reagan Presidential Library. "Appointment of Charles R. Work as a Member of the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure." presidency.ucsb.edu.
[^3]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary. *The INSLAW Affair: Investigative Report.* House Report 102-857, 102nd Congress, 2nd Session, September 10, 1992.
[^4]: Reagan Presidential Library. Appointment document, 1985.
[^4]: Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., System Overview and Report Formats for PROMIS (May 1971), prepared under LEAA Grant No. 70-DF-047, NCJ 32469. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/32469NCJRS.pdf
[^5]: The American Presidency Project, intention to appoint Charles R. Work to the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, June 10, 1985, https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/260238 ; White House Office of the Press Secretary, January 26, 1976, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, https://fordlibrarymuseum.gov/sites/default/files/pdf_documents/library/document/0248/whpr19760126-013.pdf
[^6]: U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee No. 5, Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, Hearings, Serial No. 4 (1973), statement of Patrick Healy, April 4, 1973, p. 454. https://archive.org/details/lawenforcementas00unit
[^7]: Reagan Presidential Library. Appointment document, 1985.

183
10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Donald Trump.md
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@ -47,30 +47,30 @@ relations:
with: "[[Pam Bondi]]"
start: 2025-02-04
end: 2026-04-02
fn: 34
fn: 37
- type: appointed
with: "[[Todd Blanche]]"
start: 2026-04-02
role: acting Attorney General
fn: 34
fn: 37
- type: appointed
with: "[[Howard Lutnick]]"
start: 2025-02
fn: 34
fn: 37
- type: appointed
with: "[[David Sacks]]"
start: 2024-12
fn: 33
fn: 36
- type: appointed
with: "[[Jay Clayton]]"
start: 2026-10-04
role: White House AI czar
fn: 33
fn: 36
- type: represented
with: "[[Todd Blanche]]"
reverse: true
start: 2023
fn: 34
fn: 37
- type: represented
with: "[[Roy Cohn]]"
reverse: true
@ -82,20 +82,20 @@ relations:
reverse: true
start: 2017-05-17
end: 2019-03-22
fn: 21
fn: 24
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Steve Bannon]]"
reverse: true
start: 2016-08
role: campaign chief executive
fn: 14
fn: 17
- type: relative_of
with: "[[Jared Kushner]]"
role: son-in-law
fn: 28
fn: 31
- type: spouse_of
with: "[[Melania Trump]]"
fn: 36
fn: 39
created: 2026-06-18
updated: 2026-10-12
---
@ -112,101 +112,101 @@ In the 1980s [[Alan Greenberg|Alan Greenberg]] of [[Bear Stearns|Bear Stearns]]
On October 15, 1973 the United States sued Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump and Trump Management, Inc. in the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York|Eastern District of New York]] under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, Civil Action No. 73 C 1529, before Judge [[Edward R. Neaher|Edward R. Neaher]].[^5][^6] The complaint covered 39 buildings with more than 14,000 apartments and drew on reports from black and white testers sent by the Open Housing Center of the [[New York Urban League|New York Urban League]]; the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] interviewed company employees, former employees and applicants in the investigation that preceded the suit.[^7]
The defendants retained [[Roy Cohn|Roy M. Cohn]] of the firm Saxe, Bacon, Bolan & Manley. Cohn had been admitted to the New York bar in 1948 and in 1952 appeared among the counsel for the United States on the Second Circuit appeal in [[United States v. Rosenberg|United States v. Rosenberg]]; the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse summary of the Trump case describes him as a former aide to Senator [[Joseph McCarthy|Joseph McCarthy]].[^7][^8] The docket shows that on December 12, 1973 the defendants moved to dismiss the complaint and filed a counterclaim, that the government moved on January 8, 1974 to dismiss the counterclaim, and that both motions were argued before Neaher on January 25, 1974. The docket records the government's response to affidavits of Donald Trump and Roy Cohn, a government motion for sanctions returnable in May 1974, and a notice to take Donald Trump's deposition.[^5] The counterclaim sought 100 million dollars from the government for defamation, and it failed.[^7][^9]
The defendants retained [[Roy Cohn|Roy M. Cohn]] of the firm Saxe, Bacon, Bolan & Manley. Cohn had been admitted to the New York bar in 1948 and in 1952 appeared among the counsel for the United States on the Second Circuit appeal in [[United States v. Rosenberg|United States v. Rosenberg]]; the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse summary of the Trump case describes him as a former aide to Senator [[Joseph McCarthy|Joseph McCarthy]]. The Senate's staff list gives Cohn's service as chief counsel of the [[Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]] as January 15, 1953 to August 13, 1954.[^7][^8][^9] The docket shows that on December 12, 1973 the defendants moved to dismiss the complaint and filed a counterclaim, that the government moved on January 8, 1974 to dismiss the counterclaim, and that both motions were argued before Neaher on January 25, 1974. The docket records the government's response to affidavits of Donald Trump and Roy Cohn, a government motion for sanctions returnable in May 1974, and a notice to take Donald Trump's deposition.[^5] The counterclaim sought 100 million dollars from the government for defamation. The Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse summary states that Neaher dismissed it and allowed the Fair Housing Act suit to proceed, and The Nation reported that the judge dismissed it about two months after it was filed; the docket records the argument on January 25, 1974 but not the order.[^7][^10]
[[David Marcus|David Marcus]], identified as Cohn's cousin, said in the 2024 [[PBS Frontline|FRONTLINE]] film The Choice 2024 that when Cohn met Trump he told him, "You might be guilty; it doesn't matter. Go after the Justice Department. Don't ever admit guilt." Ken Auletta of The New Yorker said in the same film that Trump was "totally taken" by Cohn's advice to "fight it" and "just deny everything and fight."[^9]
[[David Marcus|David Marcus]], identified as Cohn's cousin, said in the 2024 [[PBS Frontline|FRONTLINE]] film The Choice 2024 that when Cohn met Trump he told him, "You might be guilty; it doesn't matter. Go after the Justice Department. Don't ever admit guilt." Ken Auletta of The New Yorker said in the same film that Trump was "totally taken" by Cohn's advice to "fight it" and "just deny everything and fight."[^11]
The case ended in a consent order entered June 10, 1975. It recites that the order was entered "without adjudication of the merit and without any admission as to the existence or absence of liability," that "Defendants vigorously deny said allegations," and that Trump Management's execution of it was "in no way an admission" of a violation. It dismissed the complaint against Fred Trump and Donald Trump personally, with prejudice. It permanently enjoined the company from refusing to rent or sell, discriminating in terms, and representing that a dwelling was unavailable when it was available, directed the principal officers to "thoroughly acquaint themselves personally on a detailed basis" with the Fair Housing Act, and required a two-year affirmative program that began with written notice to the Open Housing Center of the New York Urban League. Cohn signed for the defendants and Frank E. Schwelb, Chief of the Housing Section of the Civil Rights Division, for the United States.[^6]
On June 23, 1986 the Appellate Division, First Department, in Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15, sustained four charges brought by the Departmental Disciplinary Committee in the fall of 1982 and disbarred Cohn effective immediately, in a per curiam opinion joined by Justices Sandler, Fein, Lynch, Rosenberger and Ellerin. Cohn's counsel were [[Michael Mukasey|Michael B. Mukasey]] and [[Harold R. Tyler Jr.|Harold R. Tyler, Jr.]] The charges concerned a 100,000-dollar loan from a client in 1966 that remained unpaid until 1984; the violation of an escrow order in a Securities and Exchange Commission fraud action involving two yachts; a December 6, 1975 codicil to the will of [[Lewis Rosenstiel|Lewis S. Rosenstiel]], signed in a Miami hospital room weeks before his death and naming Cohn as an additional executor and trustee; and a false answer on Cohn's July 28, 1982 application to the District of Columbia Bar. The court wrote that "for an attorney practicing for nearly 40 years in this State, such misconduct is inexcusable" and that the evidence on each charge left "no recourse but to order disbarment."[^10] The FBI's online Vault carries a 748-page file titled Roy Cohn, Part 01 of 01.[^11]
On June 23, 1986 the Appellate Division, First Department, in Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15, sustained four charges brought by the Departmental Disciplinary Committee in the fall of 1982 and disbarred Cohn effective immediately, in a per curiam opinion joined by Justices Sandler, Fein, Lynch, Rosenberger and Ellerin. Cohn's counsel were [[Michael Mukasey|Michael B. Mukasey]] and [[Harold R. Tyler Jr.|Harold R. Tyler, Jr.]] The charges concerned a 100,000-dollar loan from a client in 1966 that remained unpaid until 1984; the violation of an escrow order in a Securities and Exchange Commission fraud action involving two yachts; a December 6, 1975 codicil to the will of [[Lewis Rosenstiel|Lewis S. Rosenstiel]], signed in a Miami hospital room weeks before his death and naming Cohn as an additional executor and trustee; and a false answer on Cohn's July 28, 1982 application to the District of Columbia Bar, where question 8(b) asked whether any charges or complaints concerning his conduct as an attorney were pending and he answered "No." The court wrote that "for an attorney practicing for nearly 40 years in this State, such misconduct is inexcusable" and that the evidence on each charge left "no recourse but to order disbarment."[^12] The FBI's online Vault carries a 748-page file titled Roy Cohn, Part 01 of 01.[^13] The program of the May 2, 1983 B'nai B'rith tribute dinner for Cohn, in the Reagan Library files, lists Donald J. Trump, President, The Trump Organization, among the sponsors beside Rupert Murdoch.[^14]
### The 2016 Campaign and the Thiel Network
Peter Thiel, a [[Silicon Valley|Silicon Valley]] investor, endorsed Trump at the July 2016 [[Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]] in [[Cleveland|Cleveland]], as the first openly gay speaker at a Republican convention in sixteen years. Federal Election Commission schedule A records list Thiel's itemized individual contributions for the 2015 to 2016 cycle, including two contributions of 1,000,000 dollars each to committees named Fighting for Ohio Fund (August 10, 2016) and Make America Number 1 (October 26, 2016), a 250,000-dollar contribution to Trump Victory (October 6, 2016), and a 2,700-dollar contribution to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. (October 6, 2016). A 2,000,000-dollar contribution dated August 25, 2015 went to a committee named Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and for America.[^12]
Peter Thiel, a [[Silicon Valley|Silicon Valley]] investor, endorsed Trump at the July 2016 [[Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]] in [[Cleveland|Cleveland]], as the first openly gay speaker at a Republican convention in sixteen years. Federal Election Commission schedule A records list Thiel's itemized individual contributions for the 2015 to 2016 cycle, including two contributions of 1,000,000 dollars each to committees named Fighting for Ohio Fund (August 10, 2016) and Make America Number 1 (October 26, 2016), a 250,000-dollar contribution to Trump Victory (October 6, 2016), and a 2,700-dollar contribution to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. (October 6, 2016). A 2,000,000-dollar contribution dated August 25, 2015 went to a committee named Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and for America.[^15]
After the November 2016 election Trump placed Thiel on the transition team's executive committee. Thiel used the position to place [[Kevin Harrington|Kevin Harrington]] as Senior Director for Strategic Planning on the [[National Security Council|National Security Council]] and a Thiel aide as White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer. The [[The Guardian|Guardian]] and [[Politico|Politico]] reported in November and December 2016 that companies Thiel backed, especially [[Palantir Technologies|Palantir]], stood to benefit from the transition role.[^13]
After the November 2016 election Trump placed Thiel on the transition team's executive committee. Thiel used the position to place [[Kevin Harrington|Kevin Harrington]] as Senior Director for Strategic Planning on the [[National Security Council|National Security Council]] and a Thiel aide as White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer. The [[The Guardian|Guardian]] and [[Politico|Politico]] reported in November and December 2016 that companies Thiel backed, especially [[Palantir Technologies|Palantir]], stood to benefit from the transition role.[^16]
The [[Robert Mercer|Robert Mercer]] and [[Rebekah Mercer|Rebekah Mercer]] family funded [[Breitbart News|Breitbart News]], where [[Steve Bannon|Steve Bannon]] served as executive chairman before becoming Trump's campaign chief executive in August 2016. The Mercer Family Foundation also gave 7,460,000 dollars to the [[Government Accountability Institute|Government Accountability Institute]] in tax years 2013 to 2017; Bannon was the institute's chairman and Rebekah Mercer a director in its 2012 return, and the institute produced the book [[Clinton Cash|Clinton Cash]]. The family also funded [[Cambridge Analytica|Cambridge Analytica]], which obtained Facebook user data through an academic researcher, [[Aleksandr Kogan|Aleksandr Kogan]], and used psychographic profiling in the campaign.[^14]
The [[Robert Mercer|Robert Mercer]] and [[Rebekah Mercer|Rebekah Mercer]] family funded [[Breitbart News|Breitbart News]], where [[Steve Bannon|Steve Bannon]] served as executive chairman before becoming Trump's campaign chief executive in August 2016. The Mercer Family Foundation also gave 7,460,000 dollars to the [[Government Accountability Institute|Government Accountability Institute]] in tax years 2013 to 2017; Bannon was the institute's chairman and Rebekah Mercer a director in its 2012 return, and the institute produced the book [[Clinton Cash|Clinton Cash]]. The family also funded [[Cambridge Analytica|Cambridge Analytica]], which obtained Facebook user data through an academic researcher, [[Aleksandr Kogan|Aleksandr Kogan]], and used psychographic profiling in the campaign.[^17]
The [[Federal Trade Commission|Federal Trade Commission]] issued an administrative complaint against Cambridge Analytica on July 24, 2019. The Commission's opinion and final order of November 25, 2019 (Docket No. 9383) granted complaint counsel's unopposed motion for summary decision, found that the company harvested profile data from approximately 250,000 to 270,000 U.S. app users and from 50 to 65 million of their Facebook friends, and ordered it to delete or destroy the covered information and to stop misrepresenting its privacy practices and its Privacy Shield participation; the company had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2018.[^15] The United Kingdom Information Commissioner's final letter to Parliament, dated October 2, 2020, stated that the Commissioner "did not find any additional evidence of Russian involvement" in the material on the SCL Elections and Cambridge Analytica servers, and that earlier details of reported Russia-located activity had been referred to the National Crime Agency.[^16] The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence reported that Cambridge Analytica developers helped ingest the campaign's polling data into a visualization tool that [[Brad Parscale|Brad Parscale]] carried on an iPad.[^17]
The [[Federal Trade Commission|Federal Trade Commission]] issued an administrative complaint against Cambridge Analytica on July 24, 2019. The Commission's opinion and final order of November 25, 2019 (Docket No. 9383) granted complaint counsel's unopposed motion for summary decision, found that the company harvested profile data from approximately 250,000 to 270,000 U.S. app users and from 50 to 65 million of their Facebook friends, and ordered it to delete or destroy the covered information and to stop misrepresenting its privacy practices and its Privacy Shield participation; the company had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2018.[^18] The United Kingdom Information Commissioner's final letter to Parliament, dated October 2, 2020, stated that the Commissioner "did not find any additional evidence of Russian involvement" in the material on the SCL Elections and Cambridge Analytica servers, and that earlier details of reported Russia-located activity had been referred to the National Crime Agency.[^19] The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence reported that Cambridge Analytica developers helped ingest the campaign's polling data into a visualization tool that [[Brad Parscale|Brad Parscale]] carried on an iPad.[^20]
### The Russia Investigation
The Special Counsel's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, Volume I, stated that candidate Trump signed a letter of intent for [[Trump Tower Moscow|Trump Tower Moscow]] by November 2015, and that Trump Organization executive [[Michael Cohen|Michael Cohen]] pursued the project through at least June 2016, including by considering travel to Russia by Cohen and candidate Trump. The report places the letter of intent between approximately October 13 and November 2, 2015, signed by Trump for the Trump Organization.[^18][^19]
The Special Counsel's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, Volume I, stated that candidate Trump signed a letter of intent for [[Trump Tower Moscow|Trump Tower Moscow]] by November 2015, and that Trump Organization executive [[Michael Cohen|Michael Cohen]] pursued the project through at least June 2016, including by considering travel to Russia by Cohen and candidate Trump. The report places the letter of intent between approximately October 13 and November 2, 2015, signed by Trump for the Trump Organization.[^21][^22]
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, in Volume 5 of its report on Russian active measures (2020), stated that Trump authorized Cohen in September 2015 to pursue the deal through [[Felix Sater|Felix Sater]], a longtime business associate of Trump. The committee found that Sater had senior-level ties to Russian businessmen and former officials, though it stated that he almost certainly inflated some of his claims.[^20]
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, in Volume 5 of its report on Russian active measures (2020), stated that Trump authorized Cohen in September 2015 to pursue the deal through [[Felix Sater|Felix Sater]], a longtime business associate of Trump. The committee found that Sater had senior-level ties to Russian businessmen and former officials, though it stated that he almost certainly inflated some of his claims.[^23]
The Special Counsel's Volume II addressed obstruction. Its introduction, its executive summary and its conclusion each state: "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him." The report adds that "if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state," and that "we are unable to reach that judgment."[^21]
The Special Counsel's Volume II addressed obstruction. Its introduction, its executive summary and its conclusion each state: "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him." The report adds that "if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state," and that "we are unable to reach that judgment."[^24]
### The Supreme Court and the Leo Network
Trump nominated [[Neil Gorsuch|Neil Gorsuch]], [[Brett Kavanaugh|Brett Kavanaugh]] and [[Amy Coney Barrett|Amy Coney Barrett]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]. The Senate confirmed Gorsuch on April 7, 2017 by 54 to 45, Kavanaugh on October 6, 2018 by 50 to 48, and Barrett on October 26, 2020 by 52 to 48.[^1]
Leonard Leo, the longtime executive vice president of the [[Federalist Society|Federalist Society]], advised Trump on all three selections, according to [[ProPublica|ProPublica]], which reported on Leo's role in March 2023.[^22] The [[Judicial Crisis Network|Judicial Crisis Network]], later renamed the [[Concord Fund|Concord Fund]], funded campaigns for the confirmations. Leo managed the Kavanaugh confirmation strategy, and the Judicial Crisis Network and Concord Fund network spent millions of dollars on advertising and grassroots mobilization.[^22] The Kavanaugh confirmation followed a sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh, and the [[Senate Judiciary Committee|Senate Judiciary Committee]] held hearings on it. The Court's 2022 decision in [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]] overturned [[Roe v. Wade|Roe v. Wade]]. The conservative majority that followed the three confirmations has decided cases on abortion, gun regulation, campaign finance and executive power.
Leonard Leo, the longtime executive vice president of the [[Federalist Society|Federalist Society]], advised Trump on all three selections, according to [[ProPublica|ProPublica]], which reported on Leo's role in March 2023.[^25] The [[Judicial Crisis Network|Judicial Crisis Network]], later renamed the [[Concord Fund|Concord Fund]], funded campaigns for the confirmations. Leo managed the Kavanaugh confirmation strategy, and the Judicial Crisis Network and Concord Fund network spent millions of dollars on advertising and grassroots mobilization.[^25] The Kavanaugh confirmation followed a sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh, and the [[Senate Judiciary Committee|Senate Judiciary Committee]] held hearings on it. The Court's 2022 decision in [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]] overturned [[Roe v. Wade|Roe v. Wade]]. The conservative majority that followed the three confirmations has decided cases on abortion, gun regulation, campaign finance and executive power.
The Leo and Thiel operations share the [[Teneo Network|Teneo Network]] institutional terrain and the 501(c)(4) dark-money structure described on the Leo page.[^22]
The Leo and Thiel operations share the [[Teneo Network|Teneo Network]] institutional terrain and the 501(c)(4) dark-money structure described on the Leo page.[^25]
### Palantir and the Immigration Contracts
Palantir expanded its federal contracting during the first administration. Thiel chaired Palantir throughout, placed associates on the National Security Council, and ran the [[Dialog|Dialog]] convening network, a membership list of which was reported by WIRED in June 2026.[^23] The cluster is known as the [[Thiel Influence Network|Thiel network]]. Its [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|ICE]] contracts include the FALCON database, awarded under contract HSCETC15C00001 (May 28, 2015 to May 27, 2018, about 39.3 million dollars) and continued under contract 70CTD019C00000001 (November 28, 2018 to May 27, 2022, about 37.8 million dollars), and the Investigative Case Management system, awarded as order 70CTD022FR0000170 (September 26, 2022 to September 25, 2027, about 170.8 million dollars). Palantir's ICE work also included a contract known as ELITE. [[In-Q-Tel|In-Q-Tel]] had seeded Palantir's relationship with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], and Palantir's Gotham platform became a standard data-fusion tool across multiple agencies.[^24]
Palantir expanded its federal contracting during the first administration. Thiel chaired Palantir throughout, placed associates on the National Security Council, and ran the [[Dialog|Dialog]] convening network, a membership list of which was reported by WIRED in June 2026.[^26] The cluster is known as the [[Thiel Influence Network|Thiel network]]. Its [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|ICE]] contracts include the FALCON database, awarded under contract HSCETC15C00001 (May 28, 2015 to May 27, 2018, about 39.3 million dollars) and continued under contract 70CTD019C00000001 (November 28, 2018 to May 27, 2022, about 37.8 million dollars), and the Investigative Case Management system, awarded as order 70CTD022FR0000170 (September 26, 2022 to September 25, 2027, about 170.8 million dollars). Palantir's ICE work also included a contract known as ELITE. [[In-Q-Tel|In-Q-Tel]] had seeded Palantir's relationship with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], and Palantir's Gotham platform became a standard data-fusion tool across multiple agencies.[^27]
On April 11, 2025 ICE modified order 70CTD022FR0000170 by about 29.9 million dollars; the USAspending record describes the modification as adding licenses, configuration and engineering services to deploy "new targeting and enforcement prioritization, self-deportation tracking, and immigration lifecycle process capabilities." ICE described a system called [[ImmigrationOS|ImmigrationOS]] in connection with this work, to track immigrants for deportation. In May and June 2026 ICE placed two further Palantir orders, 70CTD026FC0000012 (about 86.3 million dollars, enforcement removal operations modernization for the Enforcement Case Management System) and 70CTD026FC0000018 (about 45.8 million dollars, Homeland Security Investigations system modernization).[^25]
On April 11, 2025 ICE modified order 70CTD022FR0000170 by about 29.9 million dollars; the USAspending record describes the modification as adding licenses, configuration and engineering services to deploy "new targeting and enforcement prioritization, self-deportation tracking, and immigration lifecycle process capabilities." ICE described a system called [[ImmigrationOS|ImmigrationOS]] in connection with this work, to track immigrants for deportation. In May and June 2026 ICE placed two further Palantir orders, 70CTD026FC0000012 (about 86.3 million dollars, enforcement removal operations modernization for the Enforcement Case Management System) and 70CTD026FC0000018 (about 45.8 million dollars, Homeland Security Investigations system modernization).[^28]
[[Anduril Industries|Anduril]] holds contracts from [[Customs and Border Protection|CBP]] for [[Sentry Tower|Sentry Tower]] surveillance towers along the southern border, including a 363 million dollar award for extended-range towers; the deployment expanded to over 350 towers covering 30 percent of the southern border. [[Clearview AI|Clearview AI]], seeded by [[Founders Fund|Founders Fund]], supplies facial identification to CBP.[^26] The Palantir partnership with the [[Israeli Ministry of Defense|Israeli Ministry of Defense]] for "war-related missions" during the [[Gaza war|Gaza war]] was announced in January 2024, during the Biden administration, and is not an action of the second Trump administration. Palantir markets its [[Palantir Gotham|Gotham]] platform as an "AI-powered kill chain."[^27]
[[Anduril Industries|Anduril]] holds contracts from [[Customs and Border Protection|CBP]] for [[Sentry Tower|Sentry Tower]] surveillance towers along the southern border, including a 363 million dollar award for extended-range towers; the deployment expanded to over 350 towers covering 30 percent of the southern border. [[Clearview AI|Clearview AI]], seeded by [[Founders Fund|Founders Fund]], supplies facial identification to CBP.[^29] The Palantir partnership with the [[Israeli Ministry of Defense|Israeli Ministry of Defense]] for "war-related missions" during the [[Gaza war|Gaza war]] was announced in January 2024, during the Biden administration, and is not an action of the second Trump administration. Palantir markets its [[Palantir Gotham|Gotham]] platform as an "AI-powered kill chain."[^30]
### The Kushner Middle East Policy
Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, led Middle East policy in the first administration. It produced the 2020 [[Abraham Accords|Abraham Accords]] normalization agreements between [[Israel|Israel]] and the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], [[Bahrain|Bahrain]], [[Sudan|Sudan]] and [[Morocco|Morocco]]. The administration recognized Israeli sovereignty over the [[Golan Heights|Golan Heights]] and moved the U.S. embassy to [[Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]. The accords departed from the earlier U.S. framework that had conditioned normalization on Israeli-Palestinian progress.[^28]
Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, led Middle East policy in the first administration. It produced the 2020 [[Abraham Accords|Abraham Accords]] normalization agreements between [[Israel|Israel]] and the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], [[Bahrain|Bahrain]], [[Sudan|Sudan]] and [[Morocco|Morocco]]. The administration recognized Israeli sovereignty over the [[Golan Heights|Golan Heights]] and moved the U.S. embassy to [[Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]. The accords departed from the earlier U.S. framework that had conditioned normalization on Israeli-Palestinian progress.[^31]
The administration approved U.S.-[[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]] arms sales over congressional opposition, using emergency authority to bypass congressional review. The sales went forward after the October 2018 murder of [[Jamal Khashoggi|Jamal Khashoggi]]. The CIA was reported to have assessed with high confidence that [[Mohammed bin Salman|Mohammed bin Salman]] had ordered the killing, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's assessment dated February 11, 2021, declassified on February 25 and released on February 26, 2021, stated: "We assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi."[^29] Kushner maintained his relationship with the crown prince after the murder and kept up the WhatsApp channel that the CIA assessed as compromised; he used WhatsApp to communicate with the crown prince during his government service.[^28] The Guardian reported in January 2020 that [[Jeff Bezos|Jeff Bezos]]'s phone had been hacked in May 2018 through a file sent from the crown prince's WhatsApp account.[^28]
The administration approved U.S.-[[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]] arms sales over congressional opposition, using emergency authority to bypass congressional review. The sales went forward after the October 2018 murder of [[Jamal Khashoggi|Jamal Khashoggi]]. The CIA was reported to have assessed with high confidence that [[Mohammed bin Salman|Mohammed bin Salman]] had ordered the killing, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's assessment dated February 11, 2021, declassified on February 25 and released on February 26, 2021, stated: "We assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi."[^32] Kushner maintained his relationship with the crown prince after the murder and kept up the WhatsApp channel that the CIA assessed as compromised; he used WhatsApp to communicate with the crown prince during his government service.[^31] The Guardian reported in January 2020 that [[Jeff Bezos|Jeff Bezos]]'s phone had been hacked in May 2018 through a file sent from the crown prince's WhatsApp account.[^31]
After the first administration ended, the [[Public Investment Fund|Saudi sovereign wealth fund]] committed 2 billion dollars to Kushner's [[Affinity Partners|Affinity Partners]]. The [[NSO Group|NSO Group]] Pegasus spyware was used against associates of Khashoggi, according to leaked data reported in July 2021. The House Committee on Oversight opened a probe of the investment in June 2022. Its letter stated that the fund's screening panel had rated the firm's due diligence unsatisfactory before the fund's board approved the investment.[^30]
After the first administration ended, the [[Public Investment Fund|Saudi sovereign wealth fund]] committed 2 billion dollars to Kushner's [[Affinity Partners|Affinity Partners]]. The [[NSO Group|NSO Group]] Pegasus spyware was used against associates of Khashoggi, according to leaked data reported in July 2021. The House Committee on Oversight opened a probe of the investment in June 2022. Its letter stated that the fund's screening panel had rated the firm's due diligence unsatisfactory before the fund's board approved the investment.[^33]
### DOGE and the Second Administration
Executive Order 14158 established the [[Department of Government Efficiency|Department of Government Efficiency]] (DOGE), led by [[Elon Musk|Elon Musk]], on January 20, 2025.[^31] An April 2025 whistleblower disclosure stated that DOGE personnel had taken sensitive data from the [[National Labor Relations Board|National Labor Relations Board]] in what the whistleblower described as an [[NLRB Data Exfiltration|NLRB data exfiltration]] and that a login attempt to NLRB systems came from a Russian IP address, as reported by [[NPR|NPR]] and [[Nextgov|Nextgov/FCW]].[^32]
Executive Order 14158 established the [[Department of Government Efficiency|Department of Government Efficiency]] (DOGE), led by [[Elon Musk|Elon Musk]], on January 20, 2025.[^34] An April 2025 whistleblower disclosure stated that DOGE personnel had taken sensitive data from the [[National Labor Relations Board|National Labor Relations Board]] in what the whistleblower described as an [[NLRB Data Exfiltration|NLRB data exfiltration]] and that a login attempt to NLRB systems came from a Russian IP address, as reported by [[NPR|NPR]] and [[Nextgov|Nextgov/FCW]].[^35]
Thiel funded the 2022 Senate campaigns of [[JD Vance|JD Vance]] in Ohio and [[Blake Masters|Blake Masters]] in Arizona, at approximately fifteen million dollars each, and brokered Vance's selection as Trump's 2024 vice-presidential running mate.[^13]
Thiel funded the 2022 Senate campaigns of [[JD Vance|JD Vance]] in Ohio and [[Blake Masters|Blake Masters]] in Arizona, at approximately fifteen million dollars each, and brokered Vance's selection as Trump's 2024 vice-presidential running mate.[^16]
[[David Sacks|David Sacks]], a former chief operating officer of [[PayPal|PayPal]] and a member of the [[PayPal Mafia|PayPal Mafia]], was named in December 2024 as White House AI and cryptocurrency czar. NPR reported in October 2026 that Sacks had stepped down from the role earlier that year and become co-chair of the [[President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology|President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology]], and that on October 4, 2026 Trump named Director of National Intelligence [[Jay Clayton|Jay Clayton]] as AI czar to lead a White House "Super Intelligence Force."[^33] [[Project 2025|Project 2025]], the [[Heritage Foundation|Heritage Foundation]] policy project, was run by [[Paul Dans|Paul Dans]], who according to ProPublica built a personnel database of more than 10,000 vetted candidates for a second Trump term. [[NBC News|NBC News]] reported that several prominent Project 2025 authors secured executive-branch roles. The [[Center for American Progress|Center for American Progress]] reported that 80 percent of the project's authors had been former Trump administration officials or close advisers, and that 140 people who worked for Trump contributed to the project. Trump publicly disavowed Project 2025 during the 2024 campaign.[^33]
[[David Sacks|David Sacks]], a former chief operating officer of [[PayPal|PayPal]] and a member of the [[PayPal Mafia|PayPal Mafia]], was named in December 2024 as White House AI and cryptocurrency czar. NPR reported in October 2026 that Sacks had stepped down from the role earlier that year and become co-chair of the [[President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology|President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology]], and that on October 4, 2026 Trump named Director of National Intelligence [[Jay Clayton|Jay Clayton]] as AI czar to lead a White House "Super Intelligence Force."[^36] [[Project 2025|Project 2025]], the [[Heritage Foundation|Heritage Foundation]] policy project, was run by [[Paul Dans|Paul Dans]], who according to ProPublica built a personnel database of more than 10,000 vetted candidates for a second Trump term. [[NBC News|NBC News]] reported that several prominent Project 2025 authors secured executive-branch roles. The [[Center for American Progress|Center for American Progress]] reported that 80 percent of the project's authors had been former Trump administration officials or close advisers, and that 140 people who worked for Trump contributed to the project. Trump publicly disavowed Project 2025 during the 2024 campaign.[^36]
[[Howard Lutnick|Howard Lutnick]], chief executive of [[Cantor Fitzgerald|Cantor Fitzgerald]], became [[Secretary of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce]] in February 2025. Lutnick's emails with Epstein appear in the 2026 file releases. [[Pam Bondi|Pam Bondi]] was confirmed as [[Attorney General|Attorney General]] on February 4, 2025, and Trump announced her departure on April 2, 2026, naming [[Todd Blanche|Todd Blanche]] acting attorney general. Blanche, whose office announced on January 30, 2026 the publication of more than 3 million additional pages and a total of nearly 3.5 million, had been Trump's personal criminal defense lawyer in the Manhattan case, and the Senate confirmed him as Attorney General on August 8, 2026 by 50 to 49.[^34][^35]
[[Howard Lutnick|Howard Lutnick]], chief executive of [[Cantor Fitzgerald|Cantor Fitzgerald]], became [[Secretary of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce]] in February 2025. Lutnick's emails with Epstein appear in the 2026 file releases. [[Pam Bondi|Pam Bondi]] was confirmed as [[Attorney General|Attorney General]] on February 4, 2025, and Trump announced her departure on April 2, 2026, naming [[Todd Blanche|Todd Blanche]] acting attorney general. Blanche, whose office announced on January 30, 2026 the publication of more than 3 million additional pages and a total of nearly 3.5 million, had been Trump's personal criminal defense lawyer in the Manhattan case, and the Senate confirmed him as Attorney General on August 8, 2026 by 50 to 49.[^37][^38]
### The Epstein Relationship
Trump and [[Jeffrey Epstein|Jeffrey Epstein]] socialized from the late 1980s through 2004, mostly in Palm Beach and New York. Archival [[NBC|NBC]] footage from 1992 shows the two men together at Mar-a-Lago watching dancers, with [[Ghislaine Maxwell|Ghislaine Maxwell]] present. A photograph taken at Mar-a-Lago on February 12, 2000 shows Trump, [[Melania Trump|Melania Knauss]], Epstein and Maxwell together.[^36]
Trump and [[Jeffrey Epstein|Jeffrey Epstein]] socialized from the late 1980s through 2004, mostly in Palm Beach and New York. Archival [[NBC|NBC]] footage from 1992 shows the two men together at Mar-a-Lago watching dancers, with [[Ghislaine Maxwell|Ghislaine Maxwell]] present. A photograph taken at Mar-a-Lago on February 12, 2000 shows Trump, [[Melania Trump|Melania Knauss]], Epstein and Maxwell together.[^39]
In an October 28, 2002 profile by Landon Thomas Jr. in New York magazine, Trump, speaking by speakerphone, said: "I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."[^37] On July 9, 2019, asked about Epstein at the White House, Trump said: "I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years." He added: "I was not a fan of his. That I can tell you."[^38]
In an October 28, 2002 profile by Landon Thomas Jr. in New York magazine, Trump, speaking by speakerphone, said: "I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."[^40] On July 9, 2019, asked about Epstein at the White House, Trump said: "I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years." He added: "I was not a fan of his. That I can tell you."[^41]
Epstein's address books listed multiple Trump telephone numbers. Former Epstein pilot [[Larry Visoski|Larry Visoski]] testified on November 29 and 30, 2021 that he had flown Trump on Epstein's aircraft, the [[Lolita Express|Lolita Express]], "more than once, I believe." Trump's name appears in the flight logs of the aircraft on domestic legs, roughly seven times by one count. No flight log entry places Trump on [[Little St. James|Little St. James]].[^39]
Epstein's address books listed multiple Trump telephone numbers. Former Epstein pilot [[Larry Visoski|Larry Visoski]] testified on November 29 and 30, 2021 that he had flown Trump on Epstein's aircraft, the [[Lolita Express|Lolita Express]], "more than once, I believe." Trump's name appears in the flight logs of the aircraft on domestic legs, roughly seven times by one count. No flight log entry places Trump on [[Little St. James|Little St. James]].[^42]
The relationship broke in 2004 over a Palm Beach property. In November 2004 Trump bought the oceanfront mansion [[Maison de l'Amitie|Maison de l'Amitie]] for 41.35 million dollars. The bankruptcy trustee, Joseph Luzinski, described the two men bidding as "two very large Palm Beach egos going at it."[^40] Speaking at his Turnberry course in Scotland on July 28, 2025, Trump said of Epstein: "He stole people that worked for me. I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again, and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata."[^41]
The relationship broke in 2004 over a Palm Beach property. In November 2004 Trump bought the oceanfront mansion [[Maison de l'Amitie|Maison de l'Amitie]] for 41.35 million dollars. The bankruptcy trustee, Joseph Luzinski, described the two men bidding as "two very large Palm Beach egos going at it."[^43] Speaking at his Turnberry course in Scotland on July 28, 2025, Trump said of Epstein: "He stole people that worked for me. I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again, and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata."[^44]
[[Maria Farmer]], who reported Epstein to the FBI in 1996, later said that she had also flagged a 1990s encounter involving Trump; the account remains an uncorroborated allegation. Trump has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.[^42]
[[Maria Farmer]], who reported Epstein to the FBI in 1996, later said that she had also flagged a 1990s encounter involving Trump; the account remains an uncorroborated allegation. Trump has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.[^45]
Trump's name also appears in the 2003 "birthday book" assembled for Epstein's fiftieth birthday. The [[Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]] reported in July 2025 that a letter in the book bore Trump's signature and a drawing of a nude woman. Trump denied authoring the letter, called the report fake, and filed a multibillion-dollar defamation suit against the paper.[^43] The staged releases, the missing "client list" that Bondi had promised, and the redactions kept the Trump-Epstein history in national coverage through the end of 2025.
Trump's name also appears in the 2003 "birthday book" assembled for Epstein's fiftieth birthday. The [[Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]] reported in July 2025 that a letter in the book bore Trump's signature and a drawing of a nude woman. Trump denied authoring the letter, called the report fake, and filed a multibillion-dollar defamation suit against the paper.[^46] The staged releases, the missing "client list" that Bondi had promised, and the redactions kept the Trump-Epstein history in national coverage through the end of 2025.
### The Epstein Files Transparency Act
The House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) on November 18, 2025, and Trump signed it on November 19, 2025 as Public Law 119-38. The statute required the Attorney General to release the unclassified records of the [[Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] and the FBI within thirty days, and allowed withholding of material that would jeopardize an active federal investigation.[^2]
On November 14, 2025 Trump asked the Justice Department to investigate Epstein's dealings with [[Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton]], [[Larry Summers|Larry Summers]], [[Reid Hoffman|Reid Hoffman]] and [[JPMorgan Chase|JPMorgan Chase]]. Attorney General Bondi assigned the investigation to Jay Clayton that day.[^44]
On November 14, 2025 Trump asked the Justice Department to investigate Epstein's dealings with [[Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton]], [[Larry Summers|Larry Summers]], [[Reid Hoffman|Reid Hoffman]] and [[JPMorgan Chase|JPMorgan Chase]]. Attorney General Bondi assigned the investigation to Jay Clayton that day.[^47]
On February 14, 2026 the Justice Department sent the Senate and House Judiciary Committees a letter under section 3 of the Act, on the letterhead of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General and signed by Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. It listed all categories of records released and withheld, a summary of redactions, and a list of "all government officials and politically exposed persons" named or referenced in the released materials. The letter states that the term "politically exposed persons" was not defined in the Act, that names appear in the files "in a wide variety of contexts," and that "some individuals had extensive direct email contact with Epstein or Maxwell while other individuals are mentioned only in a portion of a document (including press reporting) that on its face is unrelated to the Epstein and Maxwell matters." The alphabetical list runs to about 300 names, from Alexander Acosta to Mark Zuckerberg, and includes Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, JD Vance, Jared Kushner, Howard Lutnick, Steve Bannon, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Leonard Leo, Elvis Presley, Princess Diana and Kurt Cobain.[^45] [[Ro Khanna|Ro Khanna]] described the list as "purposefully muddying the waters on who was a predator and who was mentioned in an email."[^45]
On February 14, 2026 the Justice Department sent the Senate and House Judiciary Committees a letter under section 3 of the Act, on the letterhead of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General and signed by Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. It listed all categories of records released and withheld, a summary of redactions, and a list of "all government officials and politically exposed persons" named or referenced in the released materials. The letter states that the term "politically exposed persons" was not defined in the Act, that names appear in the files "in a wide variety of contexts," and that "some individuals had extensive direct email contact with Epstein or Maxwell while other individuals are mentioned only in a portion of a document (including press reporting) that on its face is unrelated to the Epstein and Maxwell matters." The alphabetical list runs to about 300 names, from Alexander Acosta to Mark Zuckerberg, and includes Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, JD Vance, Jared Kushner, Howard Lutnick, Steve Bannon, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Leonard Leo, Elvis Presley, Princess Diana and Kurt Cobain.[^48] [[Ro Khanna|Ro Khanna]] described the list as "purposefully muddying the waters on who was a predator and who was mentioned in an email."[^48]
### The January 2026 Release Allegations
The Justice Department's January 30, 2026 release of [[Epstein Files|Epstein files]] included FBI interview memoranda from 2019 in which a woman told investigators that she had been sexually assaulted by Epstein and by Trump in the 1980s, when she said she was a teenager. The Justice Department stated that the files contain false and unverified claims. Trump has denied the allegations.[^35]
The Justice Department's January 30, 2026 release of [[Epstein Files|Epstein files]] included FBI interview memoranda from 2019 in which a woman told investigators that she had been sexually assaulted by Epstein and by Trump in the 1980s, when she said she was a teenager. The Justice Department stated that the files contain false and unverified claims. Trump has denied the allegations.[^38]
### Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, which Trump signed on December 27, 2020, contained the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 as Division W. Division W has no provision in its text on unidentified aerial phenomena. Its section 3 provides that the explanatory statement printed in the Congressional Record by the chairmen of the House and Senate intelligence committees "shall have the same effect with respect to the implementation of this division as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference."[^46] That explanatory statement, Part II, "incorporates by reference, and the Executive Branch shall comply with, all direction contained in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Report to accompany the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (S. Rept. 116-233)."[^47] Senate Report 116-233, filed June 17, 2020 by [[Marco Rubio|Marco Rubio]] for the committee, contains a section titled "Advanced Aerial Threats." It states the committee's concern that "there is no unified, comprehensive process within the Federal Government for collecting and analyzing intelligence on unidentified aerial phenomena" and directs the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to submit within 180 days of enactment an unclassified report, with a classified annex permitted, that includes an analysis of data held by the [[Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force|Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force]] at the [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Office of Naval Intelligence]] and by the FBI, an interagency collection process with a named accountable official, an assessment of foreign-adversary attribution, and recommendations.[^48]
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, which Trump signed on December 27, 2020, contained the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 as Division W. Division W has no provision in its text on unidentified aerial phenomena. Its section 3 provides that the explanatory statement printed in the Congressional Record by the chairmen of the House and Senate intelligence committees "shall have the same effect with respect to the implementation of this division as if it were a joint explanatory statement of a committee of conference."[^49] That explanatory statement, Part II, "incorporates by reference, and the Executive Branch shall comply with, all direction contained in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Report to accompany the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (S. Rept. 116-233)."[^50] Senate Report 116-233, filed June 17, 2020 by [[Marco Rubio|Marco Rubio]] for the committee, contains a section titled "Advanced Aerial Threats." It states the committee's concern that "there is no unified, comprehensive process within the Federal Government for collecting and analyzing intelligence on unidentified aerial phenomena" and directs the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to submit within 180 days of enactment an unclassified report, with a classified annex permitted, that includes an analysis of data held by the [[Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force|Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force]] at the [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Office of Naval Intelligence]] and by the FBI, an interagency collection process with a named accountable official, an assessment of foreign-adversary attribution, and recommendations.[^51]
The statute that created the permanent office is a different law. The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Public Law 117-81, approved December 27, 2021 by President [[Joe Biden|Joe Biden]], contains section 1683, which directed the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, to establish an office to address unidentified aerial phenomena within 180 days of enactment.[^49]
The statute that created the permanent office is a different law. The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Public Law 117-81, approved December 27, 2021 by President [[Joe Biden|Joe Biden]], contains section 1683, which directed the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, to establish an office to address unidentified aerial phenomena within 180 days of enactment.[^52]
On February 19, 2026 Trump wrote on Truth Social that, "based on the tremendous interest shown," he would be directing Defense Secretary [[Pete Hegseth|Pete Hegseth]] and other agencies "to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters." The post followed his statement to a reporter that [[Barack Obama|Barack Obama]] had given classified information when Obama said in a podcast interview that aliens were "real."[^50] On May 8, 2026 the Department of Defense began posting the files at war.gov/UFO, with more than 160 files covering more than 400 incidents, and said additional files would follow "on a rolling basis."[^51]
On February 19, 2026 Trump wrote on Truth Social that, "based on the tremendous interest shown," he would be directing Defense Secretary [[Pete Hegseth|Pete Hegseth]] and other agencies "to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters." The post followed his statement to a reporter that [[Barack Obama|Barack Obama]] had given classified information when Obama said in a podcast interview that aliens were "real."[^53] On May 8, 2026 the Department of Defense began posting the files at war.gov/UFO, with more than 160 files covering more than 400 incidents, and said additional files would follow "on a rolling basis."[^54]
On July 11, 2026 [[The Harvard Crimson|The Harvard Crimson]] reported that [[Avi Loeb|Avi Loeb]] said he had served on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under Trump. The paper also reported that a representative of the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence|Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] visited Loeb to request a group that Loeb formed as the [[UAP Science Advisory Council|UAP Science Advisory Council]], "in support of President Trump's directive on UAP transparency."[^52] In August 2026 [[Ross Coulthart|Ross Coulthart]] wrote on NewsNation that unnamed White House sources told him Trump "has personally authorized" a government program using the methods of the [[Sky Watcher|Skywatcher]] organization. Coulthart attributed each statement to unnamed sources.[^53]
On July 11, 2026 [[The Harvard Crimson|The Harvard Crimson]] reported that [[Avi Loeb|Avi Loeb]] said he had served on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under Trump. The paper also reported that a representative of the [[Office of the Director of National Intelligence|Office of the Director of National Intelligence]] visited Loeb to request a group that Loeb formed as the [[UAP Science Advisory Council|UAP Science Advisory Council]], "in support of President Trump's directive on UAP transparency."[^55] In August 2026 [[Ross Coulthart|Ross Coulthart]] wrote on NewsNation that unnamed White House sources told him Trump "has personally authorized" a government program using the methods of the [[Sky Watcher|Skywatcher]] organization. Coulthart attributed each statement to unnamed sources.[^56]
### Footnotes
@ -218,48 +218,51 @@ On July 11, 2026 [[The Harvard Crimson|The Harvard Crimson]] reported that [[Avi
[^6]: United States v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump and Trump Management, Inc., Consent Order, No. 73 C 1529 (E.D.N.Y. June 10, 1975) (Neaher, J.), parts I to IV and signature page (Roy M. Cohn, Saxe, Bacon, Bolan & Manley, for defendants; Frank E. Schwelb, Chief, Housing Section, Civil Rights Division, for plaintiff). Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, document 83283. https://clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com/media/doc/83283.pdf ; Order to Show Cause, June 10, 1975, document 83277. https://clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com/media/doc/83277.pdf
[^7]: "United States v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump, and Trump Management, Inc.," case summary, Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, University of Michigan Law School (39 buildings, more than 14,000 apartments; tester evidence; retention of Roy Cohn; counterclaim of 100 million dollars for defamation dismissed by Judge Neaher; FBI investigation records released in 2017). https://clearinghouse.net/case/15342/
[^8]: United States v. Rosenberg, 195 F.2d 583 (2d Cir. Feb. 25, 1952) (counsel: Myles J. Lane, with Roy M. Cohn of counsel, for the United States). https://static.case.law/f2d/195/cases/0583-01.json
[^9]: "How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn fought the race discrimination lawsuit," excerpt from *The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump,* PBS FRONTLINE, September 24, 2024 (David Marcus; Ken Auletta). https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/donald-trump-roy-cohn-race-discrimination-lawsuit-fight-documentary-excerpt
[^10]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15, 503 N.Y.S.2d 759 (1st Dep't June 23, 1986) (per curiam) (charges I to IV; disbarment). https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json ; https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/6021889/in-re-cohn/
[^11]: "Roy Cohn," Part 01 of 01, FBI Records: The Vault, 748 pages. https://vault.fbi.gov/roy-cohn (archived January 18, 2021: https://web.archive.org/web/20210118074105/https://vault.fbi.gov/roy-cohn)
[^12]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule A itemized individual contributions, contributor name THIEL, PETER, two-year transaction period 2016 (retrieved October 12, 2026 through the FEC API). Entries cited: Fighting for Ohio Fund, August 10, 2016, 1,000,000; Make America Number 1, October 26, 2016, 1,000,000; Trump Victory, October 6, 2016, 250,000; Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., October 6, 2016, 2,700; Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and for America, August 25, 2015, 2,000,000. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/
[^13]: "Peter Thiel goes 'big league', joining Trump's presidential transition team." *The Guardian,* November 11, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/11/peter-thiel-joins-donald-trump-transition-team ; "Thiel could gain from Trump transition." *Politico,* December 2016. https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/peter-thiel-trump-transition-benefits-232233 ; "Who Is Kevin Harrington, the Peter Thiel Associate Who Just Joined the National Security Council Staff?" *Gizmodo,* February 2017. https://gizmodo.com/who-is-kevin-harrington-the-peter-thiel-associate-who-1791925769
[^14]: Jim Zarroli, "Billionaire Investor Robert Mercer To Step Down From Firm, Selling Stake In Breitbart." *NPR,* November 2, 2017. https://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/nov/02/billionaire-investor-robert-mercer-steps-down ; Government Accountability Institute (EIN 45-4681912), Form 990 for 2012, Part VII (Bannon, chairman; Rebekah Mercer, director). https://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/454/454681912/454681912_201212_990.pdf ; Mercer Family Foundation (EIN 20-1982204), grants to the Government Accountability Institute, tax years 2013 to 2017, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/201982204 ; Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Volume 5, pp. 664 to 667 (SCL, Cambridge Analytica and the Mercer family). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^15]: Federal Trade Commission, In the Matter of Cambridge Analytica, LLC, Docket No. 9383: Complaint (July 24, 2019), https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/182_3107_cambridge_analytica_administrative_complaint_7-24-19.pdf ; Opinion of the Commission and Final Order (issued November 25, 2019; announced December 6, 2019), https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/d09389_comm_final_opinionpublic.pdf and https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/d09389_comm_final_orderpublic.pdf ; press release, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/12/ftc-issues-opinion-order-against-cambridge-analytica-deceiving-consumers-about-collection-facebook
[^16]: Information Commissioner's Office, letter from Elizabeth Denham to Julian Knight MP, Chair, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, "ICO investigation into use of personal information and political influence," October 2, 2020 (ref. ICO/O/ED/L/RTL/0181), paragraph 9. https://ico.org.uk/media2/migrated/2618383/20201002_ico-o-ed-l-rtl-0181_to-julian-knight-mp.pdf
[^17]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election, Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities, notes 447 and 448 (Parscale testimony on the polling data visualization tool and Cambridge Analytica developers). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^18]: Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III, Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election, Volume I, Executive Summary, p. 5 (March 2019). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^19]: Mueller Report, Volume I, section IV.A.1.c.i, "Trump Signs the Letter of Intent on behalf of the Trump Organization," p. 70 (letter of intent completed between approximately October 13 and November 2, 2015). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^20]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election, Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities, Executive Summary, "Trump Tower Moscow," p. ix (116th Congress). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^21]: Mueller Report, Volume II, Introduction, p. 2; Executive Summary, p. 8; and section IV, Conclusion, p. 182 (the same two sentences appear in each). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^22]: "We Don't Talk About Leonard: The Man Behind the Right's Supreme Court Supermajority." *ProPublica,* March 2023. https://www.propublica.org/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-leo-supreme-court-supermajority
[^23]: "Leak exposes members of Peter Thiel's secretive Dialog society." *WIRED,* June 16, 2026. https://www.wired.com/story/leak-exposes-members-of-peter-thiels-secretive-dialog-society/ ; "CBP to strengthen 'tactical targeting,' 'counter-network analysis' with Clearview AI." *FedScoop,* 2026. https://fedscoop.com/dhs-cbp-contract-biometric-facial-recognition-ai/
[^24]: USAspending.gov award records, recipient Palantir Technologies Inc., awarding sub-agency U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (retrieved October 12, 2026 through the USAspending API): HSCETC15C00001, "FALCON operations and maintenance (O&M), system enhancement," 39,340,900.82 dollars, May 28, 2015 to May 27, 2018 (CONT_AWD_HSCETC15C00001_7012_-NONE-_-NONE-); 70CTD019C00000001, "FALCON O&M support services," 37,839,725.17 dollars, November 28, 2018 to May 27, 2022 (CONT_AWD_70CTD019C00000001_7012_-NONE-_-NONE-); 70CTD022FR0000170, "Investigative Case Management (ICM) operations and maintenance support services and custom enhancements," 170,765,322.37 dollars, September 26, 2022 to September 25, 2027 (CONT_AWD_70CTD022FR0000170_7012_GS35F0086U_4730). https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70CTD022FR0000170_7012_GS35F0086U_4730 ; EPIC v. ICE FOIA litigation on ICE-Palantir databases. https://epic.org/documents/epic-v-ice-palantir-databases/
[^25]: USAspending.gov transaction record, award 70CTD022FR0000170, action date April 11, 2025, 29,898,236 dollars (retrieved through the USAspending API); awards 70CTD026FC0000012 (start May 5, 2026, 86,271,599.30 dollars; CONT_AWD_70CTD026FC0000012_7012_70RTAC26A00000001_7001) and 70CTD026FC0000018 (start June 26, 2026, 45,848,616.80 dollars; CONT_AWD_70CTD026FC0000018_7012_70RTAC26A00000001_7001). https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/ ; "ICE to Use ImmigrationOS by Palantir, a New AI System, to Track Immigrants' Movements." *American Immigration Council,* April 2025. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/ice-immigrationos-palantir-ai-track-immigrants/
[^26]: "Anduril Wins $363M CBP Contract for XR Sentry Towers." *Tectonic Defense.* https://www.tectonic-defense.com/anduril-wins-363m-cbp-contract-for-xr-sentry-towers/ ; "Anduril Surveillance Towers," U.S. Customs and Border Protection FOIA record. https://www.cbp.gov/document/foia-record/anduril-surveillance-towers ; "CBP to strengthen 'tactical targeting,' 'counter-network analysis' with Clearview AI." *FedScoop,* 2026. https://fedscoop.com/dhs-cbp-contract-biometric-facial-recognition-ai/
[^27]: "Palantir, Israel Agree Strategic Partnership for Battle Tech." *Bloomberg,* January 12, 2024. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-12/palantir-israel-agree-to-strategic-partnership
[^28]: "Jared Kushner, Mohammed bin Salman, and the Making of the Trump-Saudi Alliance." *The Intercept,* March 21, 2018. https://theintercept.com/2018/03/21/jared-kushner-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman/ ; "Jared Kushner used WhatsApp to message foreign contacts in White House." *ABC News.* https://abcnews.com/Politics/jared-kushner-whatsapp-foreign-contacts-lawyer-tells-congress/story?id=61843329 ; "Amazon boss Jeff Bezos's phone 'hacked by Saudi crown prince.'" *The Guardian,* January 21, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/21/amazon-boss-jeff-bezoss-phone-hacked-by-saudi-crown-prince
[^29]: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, *Assessing the Saudi Government's Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi,* February 11, 2021 (declassified by the Director of National Intelligence on February 25, 2021 and released February 26, 2021), Executive Summary. https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Assessment-Saudi-Gov-Role-in-JK-Death-20210226v2.pdf
[^30]: "Chairwoman Maloney Launches Probe of Saudi Government's $2 Billion Investment in Affinity Partners." House Committee on Oversight, June 2, 2022. https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairwoman-maloney-launches-probe-of-saudi-government-s-2-billion-investment-in ; Wyden investigation of Affinity Partners, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-investigation-of-kushner-firm-continues-new-letter-outlines-affinity-partners-fee-structure-lack-of-return-to-investors-ques ; "NSO spyware used to target family of Jamal Khashoggi, leaked data shows." *The Guardian,* July 18, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/nso-spyware-used-to-target-family-of-jamal-khashoggi-leaked-data-shows-saudis-pegasus
[^31]: Executive Order 14158, "Establishing and Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency'" (signed January 20, 2025). *Federal Register.* https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/29/2025-02005/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency
[^32]: "Whistleblower details how DOGE may have taken sensitive NLRB data." *NPR,* April 15, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/04/15/nx-s1-5355896/doge-nlrb-elon-musk-spacex-security ; "User with Russian IP address tried to log into NLRB systems following DOGE access, whistleblower says." *Nextgov/FCW,* April 2025. https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2025/04/user-russian-ip-address-tried-log-nlrb-systems-following-doge-access-whistleblower-says/404574/
[^33]: Statement by President-elect Donald J. Trump Announcing the Appointment of David O. Sacks as "White House A.I. & Crypto Czar," December 5, 2024, The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-president-elect-donald-j-trump-announcing-the-appointment-david-o-sacks-white ; Chandelis Duster, "Trump names national intelligence chief Jay Clayton as new AI czar." *NPR,* October 4, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/10/04/nx-s1-5990781/jay-clayton-ai-czar-trump ; "Paul Dans, the Man Behind Project 2025's Most Radical Plans." *ProPublica.* https://www.propublica.org/article/project-2025-trump-campaign-heritage-foundation-paul-dans ; "The key Project 2025 authors now staffing the Trump administration." *NBC News.* https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/key-project-2025-authors-now-staffing-trump-administration-rcna195107
[^34]: "Trump fires Pam Bondi as attorney general, installs Todd Blanche as acting AG." *CBS News,* April 2, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pam-bondi-attorney-general/ ; U.S. Senate, Roll Call Votes 119th Congress, 2nd Session, Nos. 229 (cloture) and 230 (confirmation), Todd Blanche to be Attorney General, August 8, 2026. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00230.htm ; "Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general." *NPR,* August 8, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/08/08/g-s1-137631/senate-confirms-todd-blanche-attorney-general ; Ruetenik, Daniel, and Graham Kates. "Lutnick and Epstein were in business together, Epstein files show." *CBS News,* updated February 7, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-lutnick-jeffrey-epstein-in-business-together/ ; "Howard Lutnick," U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.commerce.gov/about/leadership/howard-lutnick
[^35]: "Epstein files live updates: Trump DOJ releases millions more pages of records." *NBC News,* January 30, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/live-blog/epstein-files-trump-doj-release-live-updates-rcna256639 ; "DOJ releases FBI memos detailing woman's allegation against Trump in Epstein probe." *The Wire,* 2026. https://ticklethewire.com/doj-releases-fbi-memos-detailing-womans-allegation-against-trump-in-epstein-probe/
[^36]: "Trump and Epstein: A Timeline of Their Relationship." *Time,* 2025 (1992 NBC footage; photograph of February 12, 2000). https://time.com/7333365/trump-epstein-relationship-timeline/
[^37]: Landon Thomas Jr., "Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery." *New York,* October 28, 2002. https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/ (archived May 21, 2011: https://web.archive.org/web/20110521191003/http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/)
[^38]: "Trump defends embattled Acosta, says he had a 'falling out' with Jeffrey Epstein 'a long time ago.'" *NBC News,* July 9, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-defends-embattled-acosta-says-he-had-falling-out-jeffrey-n1027861
[^39]: Lauren del Valle and Eric Levenson, "Jeffrey Epstein's former pilot testifies Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew flew aboard Epstein's private plane," *CNN,* November 30, 2021. https://abc17news.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2021/11/30/prosecution-links-ghislaine-maxwell-to-jeffrey-epstein-while-defense-says-she-is-being-blamed-for-his-actions/ ; "Trump called Epstein a 'terrific guy' who enjoyed 'younger' women before denying relationship with him." *Washington Post,* July 8, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-called-epstein-a-terrific-guy-before-denying-relationship-with-him/2019/07/08/a01e0f00-a1be-11e9-bd56-eac6bb02d01d_story.html
[^40]: "Trump and Epstein: A Timeline of Their Relationship." *Time,* 2025 (2004 Maison de l'Amitie bidding; trustee Joseph Luzinski quoted by the Washington Post). https://time.com/7333365/trump-epstein-relationship-timeline/
[^41]: "What we know about the Trump-Epstein falling out." *PolitiFact,* July 31, 2025. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/jul/31/what-we-know-about-the-trump-epstein-falling-out/ ; "President Donald Trump explains why he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago." *Fox News,* 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/us/jeffrey-epstein-thrown-out-mar-a-lago-hiring-help-trump
[^42]: "Maria Farmer and Marsh Law Firm's Persistent Advocacy Vindicated as FBI Releases Farmer's 1996 Report on Jeffrey Epstein." *Marsh Law Firm,* December 23, 2025 (the 1996 FBI report). https://www.jamesmarshlaw.com/persistent-advocacy-vindicated/ ; Trump's denial: "What we know about the Trump-Epstein falling out." *PolitiFact,* July 31, 2025. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/jul/31/what-we-know-about-the-trump-epstein-falling-out/
[^43]: "Birthday letter to Epstein bore Trump's signature, drawing of naked woman, Wall Street Journal reports." *CNN,* July 17, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/17/politics/epstein-birthday-letter-trump
[^44]: "Bondi taps acting U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to probe Democrats' ties to Epstein." *The Washington Times,* November 14, 2025. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/14/bondi-taps-acting-us-attorney-jay-clayton-probe-democrats-ties/ ; Epstein Files Transparency Act, Pub. L. No. 119-38.
[^45]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, letter to Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Raskin, "Re: Epstein Files Transparency Act, Section 3 Report to Congress," February 14, 2026, pages 1 to 6 (signed Pamela J. Bondi, United States Attorney General, and Todd Blanche, Deputy United States Attorney General). https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1434856/dl ; coverage in "Justice Department lists hundreds of prominent people named in Epstein files in letter to Congress." *CNN,* February 15, 2026. https://kvia.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/02/15/justice-department-lists-hundreds-of-prominent-people-named-in-epstein-files-in-letter-to-congress/
[^46]: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-260, approved December 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1182; Division W, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, section 3 ("Explanatory statement"), 134 Stat. 2362 to 2363. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-116publ260/pdf/PLAW-116publ260.pdf
[^47]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Explanation of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Division W, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021), Part II, Select Unclassified Congressional Direction, December 21, 2020. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/sites-default-filesations-iaa-fy21-jes-final-2-12-15-20.pdf
[^48]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, S. Rept. 116-233 (to accompany S. 3905), June 17, 2020, "Advanced Aerial Threats," pp. 11 to 12. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-116srpt233/pdf/CRPT-116srpt233.pdf
[^49]: James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-81, section 1683, "Establishment of office, organizational structure, and authorities to address unidentified aerial phenomena" (approved December 27, 2021). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-117publ81/pdf/PLAW-117publ81.pdf
[^50]: "Trump says he's directing the Pentagon to release files related to UFOs and aliens." *NBC News,* February 19, 2026 (quoting Trump's Truth Social post). https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-says-directing-pentagon-release-files-related-ufos-aliens-rcna259833
[^51]: "Pentagon releases declassified UFO files including videos and photos held by the government for decades." *NBC News,* May 8, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/ufos-and-anomalous-phenomena/ufo-uap-files-pentagon-release-trump-rcna344204
[^52]: Neil H. Shah, Theresa F. Bartelme and Risha Sinha, "Inside Avi Loeb's New UAP Council, Built From His Harvard Orbit." *The Harvard Crimson,* July 11, 2026. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/7/11/avi-loeb-uap-council/
[^53]: Ross Coulthart, "Is the Trump administration running a covert UFO program?," NewsNation Reality Check, about August 2026. https://www.newsnationnow.com/podcasts-newsnation/reality-check/trump-administration-covert-ufo-program/amp/
[^9]: U.S. Senate, Committee on Governmental Affairs, Executive Sessions of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, vol. 1, S. Prt. 107-84 (made public January 2003), "Subcommittee Staff Appointed in 1953-1954" (Roy M. Cohn, chief counsel, January 15, 1953 to August 13, 1954). https://www.senate.gov/about/resources/pdf/mccarthy-hearings-volume1.pdf
[^10]: "Trump Sues the Justice Department for $100 Million," The Nation (the judge "dismissed the counterclaim two months after it was filed"). https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/justice-department-trump-lawsuit/
[^11]: "How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn fought the race discrimination lawsuit," excerpt from *The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump,* PBS FRONTLINE, September 24, 2024 (David Marcus; Ken Auletta). https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/donald-trump-roy-cohn-race-discrimination-lawsuit-fight-documentary-excerpt
[^12]: Matter of Cohn, 118 A.D.2d 15, 503 N.Y.S.2d 759 (1st Dep't June 23, 1986) (per curiam) (charges I to IV; disbarment). https://static.case.law/ad2d/118/cases/0015-01.json ; https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/6021889/in-re-cohn/
[^13]: "Roy Cohn," Part 01 of 01, FBI Records: The Vault, 748 pages. https://vault.fbi.gov/roy-cohn (archived January 18, 2021: https://web.archive.org/web/20210118074105/https://vault.fbi.gov/roy-cohn)
[^14]: Program of the B'nai B'rith Banking and Finance Lodge State of Israel Bond tribute dinner for Roy M. Cohn, with Ronald Reagan's message of May 2, 1983, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, White House Office of Records Management subject file ME001. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/digitallibrary/whormsubject/me001/40-654-12019891-024-009-2018.pdf
[^15]: Federal Election Commission, Schedule A itemized individual contributions, contributor name THIEL, PETER, two-year transaction period 2016 (retrieved October 12, 2026 through the FEC API). Entries cited: Fighting for Ohio Fund, August 10, 2016, 1,000,000; Make America Number 1, October 26, 2016, 1,000,000; Trump Victory, October 6, 2016, 250,000; Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., October 6, 2016, 2,700; Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and for America, August 25, 2015, 2,000,000. https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/
[^16]: "Peter Thiel goes 'big league', joining Trump's presidential transition team." *The Guardian,* November 11, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/11/peter-thiel-joins-donald-trump-transition-team ; "Thiel could gain from Trump transition." *Politico,* December 2016. https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/peter-thiel-trump-transition-benefits-232233 ; "Who Is Kevin Harrington, the Peter Thiel Associate Who Just Joined the National Security Council Staff?" *Gizmodo,* February 2017. https://gizmodo.com/who-is-kevin-harrington-the-peter-thiel-associate-who-1791925769
[^17]: Jim Zarroli, "Billionaire Investor Robert Mercer To Step Down From Firm, Selling Stake In Breitbart." *NPR,* November 2, 2017. https://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/nov/02/billionaire-investor-robert-mercer-steps-down ; Government Accountability Institute (EIN 45-4681912), Form 990 for 2012, Part VII (Bannon, chairman; Rebekah Mercer, director). https://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/454/454681912/454681912_201212_990.pdf ; Mercer Family Foundation (EIN 20-1982204), grants to the Government Accountability Institute, tax years 2013 to 2017, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/201982204 ; Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Volume 5, pp. 664 to 667 (SCL, Cambridge Analytica and the Mercer family). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^18]: Federal Trade Commission, In the Matter of Cambridge Analytica, LLC, Docket No. 9383: Complaint (July 24, 2019), https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/182_3107_cambridge_analytica_administrative_complaint_7-24-19.pdf ; Opinion of the Commission and Final Order (issued November 25, 2019; announced December 6, 2019), https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/d09389_comm_final_opinionpublic.pdf and https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/d09389_comm_final_orderpublic.pdf ; press release, https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2019/12/ftc-issues-opinion-order-against-cambridge-analytica-deceiving-consumers-about-collection-facebook
[^19]: Information Commissioner's Office, letter from Elizabeth Denham to Julian Knight MP, Chair, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, "ICO investigation into use of personal information and political influence," October 2, 2020 (ref. ICO/O/ED/L/RTL/0181), paragraph 9. https://ico.org.uk/media2/migrated/2618383/20201002_ico-o-ed-l-rtl-0181_to-julian-knight-mp.pdf
[^20]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election, Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities, notes 447 and 448 (Parscale testimony on the polling data visualization tool and Cambridge Analytica developers). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^21]: Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III, Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election, Volume I, Executive Summary, p. 5 (March 2019). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^22]: Mueller Report, Volume I, section IV.A.1.c.i, "Trump Signs the Letter of Intent on behalf of the Trump Organization," p. 70 (letter of intent completed between approximately October 13 and November 2, 2015). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^23]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election, Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities, Executive Summary, "Trump Tower Moscow," p. ix (116th Congress). https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/report_volume5.pdf
[^24]: Mueller Report, Volume II, Introduction, p. 2; Executive Summary, p. 8; and section IV, Conclusion, p. 182 (the same two sentences appear in each). https://www.justice.gov/archives/sco/file/1373816/dl
[^25]: "We Don't Talk About Leonard: The Man Behind the Right's Supreme Court Supermajority." *ProPublica,* March 2023. https://www.propublica.org/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-leo-supreme-court-supermajority
[^26]: "Leak exposes members of Peter Thiel's secretive Dialog society." *WIRED,* June 16, 2026. https://www.wired.com/story/leak-exposes-members-of-peter-thiels-secretive-dialog-society/ ; "CBP to strengthen 'tactical targeting,' 'counter-network analysis' with Clearview AI." *FedScoop,* 2026. https://fedscoop.com/dhs-cbp-contract-biometric-facial-recognition-ai/
[^27]: USAspending.gov award records, recipient Palantir Technologies Inc., awarding sub-agency U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (retrieved October 12, 2026 through the USAspending API): HSCETC15C00001, "FALCON operations and maintenance (O&M), system enhancement," 39,340,900.82 dollars, May 28, 2015 to May 27, 2018 (CONT_AWD_HSCETC15C00001_7012_-NONE-_-NONE-); 70CTD019C00000001, "FALCON O&M support services," 37,839,725.17 dollars, November 28, 2018 to May 27, 2022 (CONT_AWD_70CTD019C00000001_7012_-NONE-_-NONE-); 70CTD022FR0000170, "Investigative Case Management (ICM) operations and maintenance support services and custom enhancements," 170,765,322.37 dollars, September 26, 2022 to September 25, 2027 (CONT_AWD_70CTD022FR0000170_7012_GS35F0086U_4730). https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70CTD022FR0000170_7012_GS35F0086U_4730 ; EPIC v. ICE FOIA litigation on ICE-Palantir databases. https://epic.org/documents/epic-v-ice-palantir-databases/
[^28]: USAspending.gov transaction record, award 70CTD022FR0000170, action date April 11, 2025, 29,898,236 dollars (retrieved through the USAspending API); awards 70CTD026FC0000012 (start May 5, 2026, 86,271,599.30 dollars; CONT_AWD_70CTD026FC0000012_7012_70RTAC26A00000001_7001) and 70CTD026FC0000018 (start June 26, 2026, 45,848,616.80 dollars; CONT_AWD_70CTD026FC0000018_7012_70RTAC26A00000001_7001). https://api.usaspending.gov/api/v2/search/spending_by_award/ ; "ICE to Use ImmigrationOS by Palantir, a New AI System, to Track Immigrants' Movements." *American Immigration Council,* April 2025. https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/ice-immigrationos-palantir-ai-track-immigrants/
[^29]: "Anduril Wins $363M CBP Contract for XR Sentry Towers." *Tectonic Defense.* https://www.tectonic-defense.com/anduril-wins-363m-cbp-contract-for-xr-sentry-towers/ ; "Anduril Surveillance Towers," U.S. Customs and Border Protection FOIA record. https://www.cbp.gov/document/foia-record/anduril-surveillance-towers ; "CBP to strengthen 'tactical targeting,' 'counter-network analysis' with Clearview AI." *FedScoop,* 2026. https://fedscoop.com/dhs-cbp-contract-biometric-facial-recognition-ai/
[^30]: "Palantir, Israel Agree Strategic Partnership for Battle Tech." *Bloomberg,* January 12, 2024. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-12/palantir-israel-agree-to-strategic-partnership
[^31]: "Jared Kushner, Mohammed bin Salman, and the Making of the Trump-Saudi Alliance." *The Intercept,* March 21, 2018. https://theintercept.com/2018/03/21/jared-kushner-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman/ ; "Jared Kushner used WhatsApp to message foreign contacts in White House." *ABC News.* https://abcnews.com/Politics/jared-kushner-whatsapp-foreign-contacts-lawyer-tells-congress/story?id=61843329 ; "Amazon boss Jeff Bezos's phone 'hacked by Saudi crown prince.'" *The Guardian,* January 21, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/21/amazon-boss-jeff-bezoss-phone-hacked-by-saudi-crown-prince
[^32]: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, *Assessing the Saudi Government's Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi,* February 11, 2021 (declassified by the Director of National Intelligence on February 25, 2021 and released February 26, 2021), Executive Summary. https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Assessment-Saudi-Gov-Role-in-JK-Death-20210226v2.pdf
[^33]: "Chairwoman Maloney Launches Probe of Saudi Government's $2 Billion Investment in Affinity Partners." House Committee on Oversight, June 2, 2022. https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairwoman-maloney-launches-probe-of-saudi-government-s-2-billion-investment-in ; Wyden investigation of Affinity Partners, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-investigation-of-kushner-firm-continues-new-letter-outlines-affinity-partners-fee-structure-lack-of-return-to-investors-ques ; "NSO spyware used to target family of Jamal Khashoggi, leaked data shows." *The Guardian,* July 18, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/nso-spyware-used-to-target-family-of-jamal-khashoggi-leaked-data-shows-saudis-pegasus
[^34]: Executive Order 14158, "Establishing and Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency'" (signed January 20, 2025). *Federal Register.* https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/29/2025-02005/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency
[^35]: "Whistleblower details how DOGE may have taken sensitive NLRB data." *NPR,* April 15, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/04/15/nx-s1-5355896/doge-nlrb-elon-musk-spacex-security ; "User with Russian IP address tried to log into NLRB systems following DOGE access, whistleblower says." *Nextgov/FCW,* April 2025. https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2025/04/user-russian-ip-address-tried-log-nlrb-systems-following-doge-access-whistleblower-says/404574/
[^36]: Statement by President-elect Donald J. Trump Announcing the Appointment of David O. Sacks as "White House A.I. & Crypto Czar," December 5, 2024, The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-president-elect-donald-j-trump-announcing-the-appointment-david-o-sacks-white ; Chandelis Duster, "Trump names national intelligence chief Jay Clayton as new AI czar." *NPR,* October 4, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/10/04/nx-s1-5990781/jay-clayton-ai-czar-trump ; "Paul Dans, the Man Behind Project 2025's Most Radical Plans." *ProPublica.* https://www.propublica.org/article/project-2025-trump-campaign-heritage-foundation-paul-dans ; "The key Project 2025 authors now staffing the Trump administration." *NBC News.* https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/key-project-2025-authors-now-staffing-trump-administration-rcna195107
[^37]: "Trump fires Pam Bondi as attorney general, installs Todd Blanche as acting AG." *CBS News,* April 2, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pam-bondi-attorney-general/ ; U.S. Senate, Roll Call Votes 119th Congress, 2nd Session, Nos. 229 (cloture) and 230 (confirmation), Todd Blanche to be Attorney General, August 8, 2026. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00230.htm ; "Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general." *NPR,* August 8, 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/08/08/g-s1-137631/senate-confirms-todd-blanche-attorney-general ; Ruetenik, Daniel, and Graham Kates. "Lutnick and Epstein were in business together, Epstein files show." *CBS News,* updated February 7, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-lutnick-jeffrey-epstein-in-business-together/ ; "Howard Lutnick," U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.commerce.gov/about/leadership/howard-lutnick
[^38]: "Epstein files live updates: Trump DOJ releases millions more pages of records." *NBC News,* January 30, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/live-blog/epstein-files-trump-doj-release-live-updates-rcna256639 ; "DOJ releases FBI memos detailing woman's allegation against Trump in Epstein probe." *The Wire,* 2026. https://ticklethewire.com/doj-releases-fbi-memos-detailing-womans-allegation-against-trump-in-epstein-probe/
[^39]: "Trump and Epstein: A Timeline of Their Relationship." *Time,* 2025 (1992 NBC footage; photograph of February 12, 2000). https://time.com/7333365/trump-epstein-relationship-timeline/
[^40]: Landon Thomas Jr., "Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery." *New York,* October 28, 2002. https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/ (archived May 21, 2011: https://web.archive.org/web/20110521191003/http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/n_7912/)
[^41]: "Trump defends embattled Acosta, says he had a 'falling out' with Jeffrey Epstein 'a long time ago.'" *NBC News,* July 9, 2019. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-defends-embattled-acosta-says-he-had-falling-out-jeffrey-n1027861
[^42]: Lauren del Valle and Eric Levenson, "Jeffrey Epstein's former pilot testifies Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew flew aboard Epstein's private plane," *CNN,* November 30, 2021. https://abc17news.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2021/11/30/prosecution-links-ghislaine-maxwell-to-jeffrey-epstein-while-defense-says-she-is-being-blamed-for-his-actions/ ; "Trump called Epstein a 'terrific guy' who enjoyed 'younger' women before denying relationship with him." *Washington Post,* July 8, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-called-epstein-a-terrific-guy-before-denying-relationship-with-him/2019/07/08/a01e0f00-a1be-11e9-bd56-eac6bb02d01d_story.html
[^43]: "Trump and Epstein: A Timeline of Their Relationship." *Time,* 2025 (2004 Maison de l'Amitie bidding; trustee Joseph Luzinski quoted by the Washington Post). https://time.com/7333365/trump-epstein-relationship-timeline/
[^44]: "What we know about the Trump-Epstein falling out." *PolitiFact,* July 31, 2025. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/jul/31/what-we-know-about-the-trump-epstein-falling-out/ ; "President Donald Trump explains why he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago." *Fox News,* 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/us/jeffrey-epstein-thrown-out-mar-a-lago-hiring-help-trump
[^45]: "Maria Farmer and Marsh Law Firm's Persistent Advocacy Vindicated as FBI Releases Farmer's 1996 Report on Jeffrey Epstein." *Marsh Law Firm,* December 23, 2025 (the 1996 FBI report). https://www.jamesmarshlaw.com/persistent-advocacy-vindicated/ ; Trump's denial: "What we know about the Trump-Epstein falling out." *PolitiFact,* July 31, 2025. https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/jul/31/what-we-know-about-the-trump-epstein-falling-out/
[^46]: "Birthday letter to Epstein bore Trump's signature, drawing of naked woman, Wall Street Journal reports." *CNN,* July 17, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/17/politics/epstein-birthday-letter-trump
[^47]: "Bondi taps acting U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to probe Democrats' ties to Epstein." *The Washington Times,* November 14, 2025. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/nov/14/bondi-taps-acting-us-attorney-jay-clayton-probe-democrats-ties/ ; Epstein Files Transparency Act, Pub. L. No. 119-38.
[^48]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, letter to Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, Chairman Jordan and Ranking Member Raskin, "Re: Epstein Files Transparency Act, Section 3 Report to Congress," February 14, 2026, pages 1 to 6 (signed Pamela J. Bondi, United States Attorney General, and Todd Blanche, Deputy United States Attorney General). https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1434856/dl ; coverage in "Justice Department lists hundreds of prominent people named in Epstein files in letter to Congress." *CNN,* February 15, 2026. https://kvia.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/02/15/justice-department-lists-hundreds-of-prominent-people-named-in-epstein-files-in-letter-to-congress/
[^49]: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-260, approved December 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1182; Division W, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, section 3 ("Explanatory statement"), 134 Stat. 2362 to 2363. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-116publ260/pdf/PLAW-116publ260.pdf
[^50]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Explanation of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Division W, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021), Part II, Select Unclassified Congressional Direction, December 21, 2020. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/sites-default-filesations-iaa-fy21-jes-final-2-12-15-20.pdf
[^51]: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, S. Rept. 116-233 (to accompany S. 3905), June 17, 2020, "Advanced Aerial Threats," pp. 11 to 12. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRPT-116srpt233/pdf/CRPT-116srpt233.pdf
[^52]: James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-81, section 1683, "Establishment of office, organizational structure, and authorities to address unidentified aerial phenomena" (approved December 27, 2021). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-117publ81/pdf/PLAW-117publ81.pdf
[^53]: "Trump says he's directing the Pentagon to release files related to UFOs and aliens." *NBC News,* February 19, 2026 (quoting Trump's Truth Social post). https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-says-directing-pentagon-release-files-related-ufos-aliens-rcna259833
[^54]: "Pentagon releases declassified UFO files including videos and photos held by the government for decades." *NBC News,* May 8, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/ufos-and-anomalous-phenomena/ufo-uap-files-pentagon-release-trump-rcna344204
[^55]: Neil H. Shah, Theresa F. Bartelme and Risha Sinha, "Inside Avi Loeb's New UAP Council, Built From His Harvard Orbit." *The Harvard Crimson,* July 11, 2026. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/7/11/avi-loeb-uap-council/
[^56]: Ross Coulthart, "Is the Trump administration running a covert UFO program?," NewsNation Reality Check, about August 2026. https://www.newsnationnow.com/podcasts-newsnation/reality-check/trump-administration-covert-ufo-program/amp/

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10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jacques Vallee.md
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@ -1,36 +1,239 @@
---
aliases:
- Jacques Vallée
- Jacques Vallee
- Jacques F. Vallée
- Jacques F. Vallee
- J. Vallee
- J. Vallée
category: "UFO & Anomalous Phenomena"
tags:
- Person
- Military
- SRI
- UFOlogist
- Stargate
summary: "Jacques Vallée is a French-born computer scientist, astronomer, and UFOlogist."
- RemoteViewing
- StanfordResearchInstitute
- ComputerConferencing
- InvisibleCollege
- NIDS
- VentureCapital
- UnitedNations
- Trinity
summary: "Jacques Vallée is a French-born computer scientist and ufologist whose journals describe a destroyed 1961 satellite-tracking tape; he addressed the United Nations in 1978 and sat on the NIDS advisory board."
born: 1939-09-24
location: "Pontoise, France"
created: 2025-08-05
updated: 2026-10-12
relations:
- type: employed_by
with: "[[Paris Observatory]]"
role: "staff of the artificial satellite service at Meudon, from June 1961"
start: 1961
fn: 3
- type: member_of
with: "[[Invisible College]]"
role: "the group around J. Allen Hynek, named the Invisible College by Hynek in 1967"
start: 1967
fn: 6
- type: partner_of
with: "[[J. Allen Hynek]]"
role: "research collaborator in Evanston and Chicago"
start: 1966
fn: 6
- type: funded
with: "[[National Science Foundation]]"
reverse: true
role: "principal investigator on four computer-conferencing awards"
start: 1975
end: 1980
fn: 11
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Stanford Research Institute]]"
role: "consultant on the Enhanced Human Performance Investigation, SRI Project 1291 (DACOS classifier)"
start: 1986
end: 1987
fn: 21
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Special Political Committee]]"
role: "addressed the 35th meeting of the committee on November 27, 1978, on the Grenada UFO research item"
start: 1978
end: 1978
fn: 25
- type: member_of
with: "[[National Institute for Discovery Science]]"
role: "Science Advisory Board"
start: 2000
end: 2008
fn: 41
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Garry Nolan]]"
role: "co-author of the 2022 Progress in Aerospace Sciences paper on the Council Bluffs material"
start: 2022
fn: 31
- type: founded
with: "[[EA-Capital Fund]]"
role: "co-founder"
fn: 38
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Graham Burnette]]"
role: "principal of Red Planet Capital, a NASA strategic venture fund"
start: 2006
fn: 39
- type: partner_of
with: "[[Peter Banks]]"
role: "principal of Red Planet Capital, a NASA strategic venture fund"
start: 2006
fn: 39
- type: participant_in
with: "[[Sol Foundation]]"
role: "speaker at the inaugural Sol Foundation symposium, Palo Alto, November 17 to 18, 2023"
start: 2023
end: 2023
fn: 44
- type: member_of
with: "[[National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena]]"
role: "Advisory Board"
fn: 43
---
Jacques Vallée is a French-born computer scientist, astronomer, and [[UFOlogist]]. He worked at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] and carried a top-secret security clearance, being assigned to the SRI psychic research program as a "de facto unpaid consultant"[^1].
Jacques Vallée (born September 24, 1939) is a French-born computer scientist, astronomer and [[UFOlogist]] who worked at the [[Paris Observatory]] in 1961, with [[J. Allen Hynek]] at [[Northwestern University]] in the 1960s, on [[National Science Foundation]]-funded computer conferencing in the 1970s, as a consultant to the [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] remote-viewing program in 1986 and 1987, and as a venture capitalist from 1987. His journals for 1957 to 1969 were published as [[Forbidden Science]]; he describes them as a record of "the appearance of new classes of phenomena" that "were deliberately denied or distorted by those in authority within the government and the military," and writes that science "never had fair and complete access to the most important files."[^1][^2]
In early 1973, Vallée was working on a classified [[Department of Defense]] contract for [[DARPA]] involving a multiuser military computer network called [[ARPANET]], which later became the [[Internet]]. His expertise in information technology and computer programming, combined with his dedication to the study of [[Unidentified Flying Objects|UFOs]], made him a relatable figure for [[Ingo Swann]][^1].
### Paris Observatory and the 1961 tape
Vallée observed Swann's frustration with the [[Outbounder-Beacon Experiment|outbounder-beacon experiments]], which Swann felt were a "trivialization of my abilities." Vallée suggested Swann approach the problem from the perspective of information technology, asking, "What do you do [when remote viewing]? Do you move your consciousness around?" Swann replied, "Yes, I can position it anywhere"[^1].
In the journal entry dated Paris, August 12, 1961, Vallée recorded a sighting in [[Pontoise, France]] on a bright afternoon in 1955 and wrote that he wished to learn what research might be carried out in "high places" and what data was kept in official files. He had been a government employee since June of that year, on the staff of the artificial satellite service of the Paris Observatory at Meudon, which he described as part of a recently created Space Committee reporting to the Prime Minister.[^3]
Vallée drew an analogy between long-distance [[Telepathy|telepathy]] and his work on the ARPANET, suggesting that a "virtual addressing" scheme could be applied to [[Remote Viewing]]. This idea, that accessing a virtual address was a means of accessing data beyond sensory grasp, inspired Swann to develop the concept of [[Coordinate Remote Viewing]] (CRV)[^1].
The service was headed by [[Paul Muller]]. Its work was to track orbiting objects and compute orbital elements, and its reduced data were punched onto Telex tape for the [[United States Navy]] in Paris and passed on to the [[Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory]] in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Vallée wrote that on 11 July at 10:35 p.m. he saw a satellite brighter than second magnitude. On another occasion several staff members recorded no fewer than eleven points, and the next morning, Vallée wrote, Muller "simply confiscated the tape and destroyed it," although a similar object had just been tracked by astronomers at Besançon and by a satellite expert in Saint-Malo.[^3]
Vallée also commented on the mysterious death of [[Pat Price]], noting that when the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] learned Price was a Scientologist, the church became a suspect in his death[^1].
Vallée asked Muller why the data were not sent to the Americans. He recorded Muller's reply: "The Americans would laugh at us." Vallée wrote that Muller seemed terrified that the morning papers might carry the headline "Paris Observatory tracking something it cannot identify."[^3]
### Involvement with AATIP-Related Research
### Northwestern, the Condon Committee and the Invisible College
Dr. Vallée has continued his scientific investigation of [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena]] (UAP) into the modern era. He was involved in scientific research related to the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AATIP), collaborating with [[Garry Nolan]] on the analysis of a metallic slag recovered from a 1977 UAP crash in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Their research, published in the peer-reviewed journal "Progress in Aerospace Sciences," revealed that the material contained isotopes of magnesium and iron that were arranged in a highly structured and deliberate manner, a feat that is beyond our current technological capabilities.[^2]
Vallée's entries from 1966 and 1967 record his work with Hynek, then scientific consultant to the [[United States Air Force]] on [[Project Blue Book]], at [[Dearborn Observatory]] on the Northwestern campus in Evanston. In a Chicago entry of November 5, 1966, he recorded Hynek's remark over dinner that if the [[Condon Committee]] were to conclude that UFOs existed, responsibility for their study would be taken from him, as Enrico Fermi and J. Robert Oppenheimer had ceased to be free academic physicists when the Atomic Energy Commission was created.[^4] On November 13, 1966 he wrote that he had returned with Hynek from two days in Boulder with the Condon team, and recorded Hynek's remark on the drive from Denver that he had been waiting for the occasion all his life.[^5]
His scientific background has informed his approach to UAP research, which has focused on data analysis and the development of a classification system for UAP sightings. He is the author of numerous books on the UAP topic, including "Anatomy of a Phenomenon" and "Passport to Magonia," in which he has explored the parallels between modern UAP encounters and historical folklore and mythology. He worked closely with Dr. J. Allen Hynek, the scientific consultant for the U.S. Air Force's [[Project Blue Book]], and was the inspiration for the character of the French scientist, Claude Lacombe, in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."[^2]
In a Chicago entry of May 27, 1967, Vallée recorded that Hynek had begun calling their small group "the Invisible College," in reference to the scientific movement that preceded the creation of the [[Royal Society]] in the early 1660s, "at a time when it was very dangerous to be interested in natural philosophy."[^6]
The entry of June 18, 1967 records that Vallée, sorting the Air Force files that Hynek kept at his house, found among the material on the history of Projects Sign and Grudge a letter dated January 9, 1953, stamped in red ink "SECRET" with a security-information legend, signed by a man Vallée calls "Pentacle," and addressed to Miles E. Coll at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] for transmittal to Captain [[Edward J. Ruppelt]]. Vallée wrote that the letter, which opens with a recommendation to the Air Technical Intelligence Center on future methods of handling the UFO problem, bears on the period of the [[Robertson Panel]] and of Report #14.[^7] On June 30 he wrote that he kept thinking about the letter and had shown it only to a colleague named Fred; Fred's comment, as Vallée recorded it, was that references to what could and could not be discussed in Washington were "clearly referring to a manipulation of the Robertson Panel."[^8]
The Condon report's discussion of UFO reports near Martian oppositions states that the claimed correlation "is quite unfounded; the idea is not supported by observational data," followed by the citation "(Vallee and Vallee, 1966, p. 138)," the 1966 book [[Challenge to Science]] by Jacques and Janine Vallée.[^9]
In September 1969 Vallée wrote that he would have little time to keep the journal once he started working at [[Stanford University]], having first visited the campus on July 1 of that year.[^10]
### Computer conferencing
The National Science Foundation made four awards with Vallée as principal investigator between 1975 and 1980, each on computer-based group communication. Three went to the [[Institute For the Future]] in California: an investigation of computer-based group communication in geoscience (award 7505297, $166,200, April 1975 to October 1977),[^11] an extended field test of computer conferencing covering social, managerial and economic issues (award 7505298, $133,700, January 1975 to July 1977),[^12] and an evaluation of computer conferencing for research and development productivity (award 7600512, $154,200, November 1975 to April 1978).[^13] The fourth, award 7820720, went to [[Infomedia Corporation]] for the development of formal representations of computer-based group communication ($41,704, February 1979 to May 1980).[^14]
Vallée's own biographical note, printed as an appendix to a 2025 review of [[Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena|UAP]] science of which he is a co-author, states that as one of the principal investigators for the Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1972 he led the team that developed the first network conferencing system on the [[ARPANET]].[^15]
### Remote viewing through computer conferencing
In October 1976 the Proceedings of the IEEE published "Remote viewing experiments through computer conferencing" by Vallée, [[Arthur Hastings]] and Gerald Askevold (pp. 1551-1552). The paper is cited in the reference list of a 1977 conference proceedings held in the CIA reading room.[^16]
Harry Snyder's review of remote-viewing research, Report RV-79-1, describes the design: twelve participants in New York, Florida, Quebec and California, each with a computer terminal at home or work, attempted to describe ten mineral samples held in a geologist's hand at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Pacific time, with five of the samples sealed in envelopes as a "double-blind" pool; 33 descriptions from six persons were judged by five judges. The review records that the correct target received the highest score in 8 of 33 responses, against 3.3 expected by chance, and tabulates the scores as "Table 17. Results of Vallee, et al. (1976)." It notes that the paper was received in early May 1976 and, answering [[Hal Puthoff]]'s criticism of multiple-subject studies, lists the Vallee, Hastings and Askevold work among the experiments with simultaneous subjects that returned positive results.[^17]
A 1977 paper by Puthoff and [[Russell Targ]] for the IEEE ELECTRO 77 convention describes a series in which an experimenter in New York City and a subject in the SRI laboratory in Menlo Park, California communicated only by the "ARPA computer net."[^18]
[[Annie Jacobsen]]'s 2017 account says Vallée held a top-secret clearance and was assigned to the SRI psychic research program as a "de facto unpaid consultant." She writes that in early 1973 he worked on a classified [[Department of Defense]] contract for the [[DARPA|Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] involving a multiuser military computer network called ARPANET, which later became the [[Internet]], and that this expertise, together with his study of UFOs, made him a sympathetic figure to [[Ingo Swann]]. Swann, according to her account, called the [[Outbounder-Beacon Experiment|outbounder-beacon experiments]] a "trivialization of my abilities." Vallée asked, "What do you do [when remote viewing]? Do you move your consciousness around?" and Swann replied, "Yes, I can position it anywhere." Vallée drew an analogy between long-distance [[Telepathy|telepathy]] and his ARPANET work and suggested that a "virtual addressing" scheme could be applied to [[Remote Viewing]], accessing a virtual address being a means of reaching data beyond sensory grasp; in her telling, this idea led Swann to develop [[Coordinate Remote Viewing]]. Her account also records Vallée's comment that when the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] learned that [[Pat Price]] was a Scientologist, the church became a suspect in Price's death.[^19]
### SRI and the DACOS classifier
The final technical report for SRI Project 1291, the Enhanced Human Performance Investigation, covering October 1, 1986 to September 30, 1987, was written by [[Edwin May]].[^20] The report states that SRI asked Vallée to act as a consultant and supplied him with the NExpert expert-system shell from Neuron Data of Palo Alto: "Acting as a consultant, Dr. Jacques Vallee was to undertake the initial steps towards the development of such a system."[^21]
Vallée's system, called DACOS (Description and Classification of Sites), grouped the 200 targets in the program's target pool into 40 categories made up of combinations of 27 attributes in six types: Water, Structures, Interfaces, Contours, Land and Features. The report describes DACOS as a hierarchical system.[^21]
The report tested DACOS on 30 transcripts from a single 1987 experiment. "Overall, the DACOS performed only marginally better than chance." Water was identified correctly 17 times, structures 13 times, and the full target classification twice. The report says the series "did not show a significant RV effect, and thus proved a poor test case."[^22]
### The Secret Onion and the Wilson interview
Vallée's journal entry of October 2, 2003, written in Austin, Texas, records that Puthoff met him at the airport and told him the thread began in the late 1980s with "a supposedly top-secret UFO study group for Army Intelligence started by John Alexander," which Vallée had heard of through Col. [[Ron Blackburn]] of [[Lockheed Corporation]] and which was nicknamed "the Secret Onion." Vallée places its advanced-physics meetings between May and August 1985 at the offices of the [[BDM Corporation]].[^23] The same entries describe a transcript of an April 1997 interview of Admiral [[Thomas R. Wilson]], then of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], by [[Eric Davis]] at EG&G in Las Vegas, in which, as Vallée summarizes it, Wilson searched the records of special access programs, found three programs related to UFOs and was referred to a fourth group. Vallée quotes the answer as "We're a reverse engineering program."[^23]
### The 1978 United Nations initiative
On July 7, 1978, Grenada's deputy permanent representative asked that an item on the establishment of a United Nations agency or department for research into unidentified flying objects be included in the agenda of the thirty-third General Assembly. The item was allocated to the [[Special Political Committee]] on September 20, 1978.[^24] The Assembly had heard from Grenada on the subject in each session since 1975, and in the committee on November 27 Prime Minister [[Eric Gairy]] stated that several scientists formed part of Grenada's delegation.[^25]
The committee's summary record of the 35th meeting, on Monday, November 27, 1978, lists Gairy, Minister of Education Wellington Friday, and Hynek (designated as speaking for Grenada), followed by a statement by "Mr. VALLEE," whose entry in the record carries no delegation designation, and then by Lt. Col. Coyne on an October 18, 1973 helicopter encounter over Ohio. Vallée told the committee that the UFO phenomenon had three aspects: a physical manifestation that could be investigated with available instruments, a psycho-physiological phenomenon, and a social belief system created in all nations by the expectation of space visitors. He said he had spent over 15 years studying reports from official and unofficial channels in France and the United States, supported by extensive computer statistics, and that the scientists with whom he was in contact would welcome a structure within which to share data.[^25]
Gairy introduced draft resolution A/SPC/33/L.20, which proposed a group of experts under the [[Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space]]. On December 8, 1978, at the 47th meeting, the committee agreed by consensus on a substitute text.[^26] The General Assembly adopted it as decision 33/426 on December 18, 1978. It took note of Grenada's statements and draft resolutions, invited interested Member States to coordinate scientific research on extraterrestrial life, including unidentified flying objects, at the national level and to inform the Secretary-General, requested the Secretary-General to transmit Grenada's statements to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space for its 1979 meeting, and provided that the committee would permit Grenada to present its views at its next session.[^24][^27] The Ralph Bunche Institute, in a June 1, 2026 post, describes the 1978 effort as backed by researchers including Vallée and Hynek, and says the United Nations dismissed the initiative, citing political and scientific resistance.[^28]
Vallée's journal records earlier approaches. In a Chicago entry of June 21, 1966, he recorded that Hynek had gone to New York to see the author John Fuller and U Thant, the Secretary-General, who was anxious to know what the United States would do about the UFO question because some member nations had expressed concern; U Thant said that the initiative could only come from member nations, and Vallée wrote that Hynek asked for his help, that he would ask Aimé Michel to arrange a meeting with a French government representative, and that he would write to Dr. Fontes to prompt similar action by Brazilian authorities.[^29] On November 5, 1966 he wrote that a French official had not answered his group about France's possible interest in a debate at the United Nations, and that "I feel I have been used."[^4] In a Chicago entry of May 15, 1967, he recorded that Hynek had given him advice on the steps to take with the Russians and with the United Nations, which "seem to have a continuing interest in all this."[^30]
### Council Bluffs and Haynesville
A paper by [[Garry Nolan]], Vallée, Sizun Jiang and Larry G. Lemke, "Improved instrumental techniques, including isotopic analysis, applicable to the characterization of unusual materials with potential relevance to aerospace forensics," appeared in [[Progress in Aerospace Sciences]], volume 128, in January 2022.[^31] A 2025 review of UAP science to which Vallée and Nolan contributed describes the material it analyzes as a mass of molten metal that witnesses reported falling from a hovering object into Big Lake Park in [[Council Bluffs, Iowa]] on December 17, 1971. It records that Vallée retained some of the material, that Nolan, Jiang and Lemke reanalyzed it by secondary ion mass spectrometry, and that the titanium, iron and chromium isotope distributions were consistent with terrestrial material, with local homogeneity but considerable diversity in elemental ratios across subsamples. The review quotes the paper's statement that the sample "was incompletely mixed at the time of deposition," and adds that the nature and origin of the material remain unknown.[^32]
[[Luis Elizondo]] wrote in his 2024 book [[Imminent]] that Vallée and Nolan collaborated on a paper analyzing a metallic slag recovered from a 1977 UAP crash in Council Bluffs, that the material's magnesium and iron isotopes were arranged in a highly structured and deliberate manner, a feat Elizondo describes as beyond current technological capability, and he places the work within the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AATIP). Elizondo describes Vallée's approach to UAP as focused on data analysis and the development of a classification system for sightings, writes that Vallée worked closely with Hynek, and lists among his books [[Passport to Magonia]] and *Anatomy of a Phenomenon*, which he says explore parallels between modern UAP encounters and historical folklore and mythology.[^33]
An August 24, 2025 interview page for The Good Trouble Show describes a peer-reviewed paper by Vallée and two co-authors, accepted by Progress in Aerospace Sciences, that re-examines the 1966 [[Haynesville]] case. The page says the case is hidden in the 1968 Condon report and describes "a small object radiating the power output of a nuclear power plant."[^34]
### Lacombe
Elizondo wrote that Vallée was the inspiration for the character of the French scientist [[Claude Lacombe]] in [[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]].[^33] Jason Colavito, in a 2018 post on Vallée's public account of his career, wrote that it is part of Vallée's personal mythology that he served as the inspiration for Claude Lacombe, the French ufologist played by [[François Truffaut]] in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s film (1977).[^35] Colavito reports that [[Mark O'Connell]]'s biography of Hynek, [[The Close Encounters Man]] (2017), identifies the French astrophysicist [[Claude Poher]] as the more likely model for the character. Colavito also wrote that, according to O'Connell, Vallée sent a message objecting to the book, and quotes O'Connell: "Turned out he really was concerned that my book was being used as a vehicle for CUFOS," the [[Center for UFO Studies]].[^36]
### Trinity
In 2021 Vallée and [[Paola Harris]] self-published a book on a claimed crash in August 1945 near the [[Trinity Test]] site in [[San Antonio, New Mexico]]. Colavito reported that Vallée pulled the book, then titled "The Best-Kept Secret," on the day of its May 4, 2021 release, and that a revised edition titled "Trinity: The Best-Kept Secret" was to appear on June 1. According to the press release Colavito quoted, the authors reconstructed the observations of three witnesses, two of whom are still living, who described the recovery of a nearly intact flying vehicle and its occupants by an Army detachment. The release describes the craft as avocado-shaped, and says Vallée analyzed a piece of debris held by one witness and would suggest that it was of extraterrestrial origin.[^37]
### Venture capital
In September 2006 [[NASA]] named a team of venture capitalists to run a strategic venture fund called Red Planet Capital, based in San Mateo, California. The principals were [[Peter Banks]], co-founder and partner of XR Ventures, [[Graham Burnette]], general partner of the [[EA-Capital Fund]], and Vallée, co-founder of the EA-Capital Fund. NASA was to provide strategic direction and technical input, with a NASA investment of about $75 million over five years. The fund was to focus on eight sectors, including information technology, communications, biomedical support, environmental systems and advanced materials, and the principals could invest as much as about $5 million per company over several rounds.[^38][^39] Vallée's biographical note states that after 1987 he was co-founder and general partner of the Euro-America Ventures group of funds, which invested in over 60 startups, and that in 2006 he and his two partners were selected by NASA to form Red Planet Capital.[^15]
Vallée's own account, in a seminar text published in the Revue française de comptabilité in May 2006, describes him as a general partner of the SBV fund, named for Sigefi, Burnette and Vallée, and as co-founder of the EuroAmerica fund series, which the note to that text says produced eighteen Nasdaq exits since 1988. Vallée wrote that EuroAmerica I ended in 2000 with a net internal rate of return of 15.4 percent and that EuroAmerica II, then in liquidation, stood at 14.7 percent.[^40]
### National Institute for Discovery Science, NARCAP and the Sol Foundation
The [[National Institute for Discovery Science]] (NIDS), founded by [[Robert Bigelow]], listed Vallée on its Science Advisory Board. The personnel page as captured on December 6, 2000 names [[Warren Burggren]] as chairman of the board and lists Vallée with [[Douglas P. Ferraro]], [[Albert A. Harrison]], [[Edgar Mitchell]], [[Melvin Morse]], [[Martin Piltch]], Puthoff, [[Theodore Rockwell]], [[John F. Schuessler]], [[Jessica Utts]] and [[Jim Whinnery]]; the same capture lists Bigelow as president and founder, [[Colm Kelleher]] as deputy administrator, John B. Alexander as discreet project scout and Eric Davis for aerospace physics and astrophysics.[^41] The page as captured on June 22, 2000 includes [[Peter A. Sturrock]] on the board as well. By the capture of August 6, 2001, Puthoff is named chairman, and captures from October 2002 and April 2004 list Alexander on the board; the capture of May 9, 2008 still lists Vallée.[^42]
Vallée is also named in the 2025 review as a member of the advisory board of the [[National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena]] (NARCAP).[^43]
Vallée spoke at the inaugural symposium of the [[Sol Foundation]], held November 17 to 18, 2023 in Palo Alto, California, hosted by the Nolan Laboratory and the Stanford School of Medicine, alongside [[Avi Loeb]], [[Diana Walsh Pasulka]], Larry Maguire, [[Christopher Mellon]], [[Tim Gallaudet]] and [[Karl Nell]]. Nolan opened the symposium by saying "The objective here is to legitimize and professionalize and then to seek from you your ideas."[^44]
### Publications
* *Forbidden Science 2*
Vallée's books include Passport to Magonia (1969), which compares modern sightings with folklore and mythology,[^45] *Anatomy of a Phenomenon*, and *Forbidden Science 2*, in addition to the journals described above.
### Footnotes
[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017.
[^2]: Elizondo, Luis. *Imminent*. William Morrow, 2024.
[^1]: Jacques Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, foreword, p. vii. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^2]: Jacques Vallée, *Forbidden Science*, vol. 5, chapter "September Eleven," entry "New York. Tuesday 23 September 2003" and entry for 24 September 2003 ("This is my 64th birthday"), p. 200 ff.
[^3]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Paris. 12 August 1961," pp. 40-42. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^4]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Saturday 5 November 1966." https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^5]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Sunday 13 November 1966," pp. 226-227. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^6]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Saturday 27 May 1967." https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^7]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Sunday 18 June 1967," pp. 278-280 (the Pentacle letter of January 9, 1953); the later discussion of the letter and the January 1953 meeting report by Frederic C. Durant addressed to the CIA Assistant Director for Scientific Intelligence is at pp. 426-427. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^8]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Friday 30 June 1967," pp. 283-284. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^9]: University of Colorado (Edward U. Condon, director), *Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects*, vol. 1 (1968), discussion of Martian oppositions, citing "Vallee and Vallee, 1966, p. 138," and the bibliography entry for Jacques and Janine Vallee, *Challenge to Science: The UFO Enigma* (Chicago: Henry Regnery, 1966). https://archive.org/details/DTIC_AD0680975
[^10]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, chapter 20, entries "Stanford, California. Tuesday 1 July 1969" and "Stanford. Sunday 7 September 1969," beginning p. 398. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^11]: National Science Foundation, award 7505297, "An Investigation of Computer-Based Group Communication in Geoscience," Institute For the Future (California), principal investigator Jacques Vallee, April 15, 1975 to October 31, 1977, $166,200. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=7505297
[^12]: National Science Foundation, award 7505298, "Extended Field Testing of Computer Conferencing, an Investigation of Social, Managerial, and Economic Issues in Computer-Based Communication," Institute For the Future (California), principal investigator Jacques Vallee, January 1, 1975 to July 31, 1977, $133,700. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=7505298
[^13]: National Science Foundation, award 7600512, "An Evaluation of the Use of Computer Conferencing to Improve Productivity in Research and Development," Institute For the Future (California), principal investigator Jacques Vallee, November 15, 1975 to April 30, 1978, $154,200. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=7600512
[^14]: National Science Foundation, award 7820720, "Development of Formal Representations of Computer-Based Group Communication," Infomedia Corporation, principal investigator Jacques Vallee, February 15, 1979 to May 31, 1980, $41,704. https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=7820720
[^15]: Kevin H. Knuth et al., "The New Science of Unidentified Aerospace-Undersea Phenomena (UAP)," arXiv:2502.06794v2 (March 30, 2025), Appendix A.17, "Dr. Jacques F. Vallée, Documatica Research," p. 145. The ARPA principal-investigator and fund statements are Vallée's own biographical note. https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06794
[^16]: Jacques Vallee, Arthur Hastings and Gerald Askevold, "Remote viewing experiments through computer conferencing," *Proceedings of the IEEE*, vol. 64, October 1976, pp. 1551-1552, as listed in reference 6 of the proceedings of the International Conference on Cybernetics and Society, September 19-21, 1977, CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080055-4. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000200080055-4
[^17]: Harry L. Snyder, *Summary and Critical Evaluation of Research in Remote Viewing*, Report RV-79-1, section K (Vallee, Hastings and Askevold), pp. 237-245, Table 17, and the discussion of simultaneous-subject experiments, CIA-RDP96-00787R000100260003-2. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000100260003-2
[^18]: Harold E. Puthoff and Russell Targ, "Direct Perception of Remote Geographical Locations," invited paper, IEEE National Convention ELECTRO 77, New York, April 12, 1977, CIA-RDP96-00787R000200080008-6. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000200080008-6
[^19]: Annie Jacobsen, *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis* (Little, Brown and Company, 2017), passages on Vallée's clearance, his SRI consultancy, the 1973 contract, Ingo Swann, Pat Price and virtual addressing.
[^20]: Edwin C. May, *Enhanced Human Performance Investigation (U)*, Final Technical Report, SRI Project 1291, December 1987, covering October 1, 1986 to September 30, 1987, title page and authorship block. CIA-RDP96-00789R002200150001-1. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00789r002200150001-1
[^21]: May, *Enhanced Human Performance Investigation (U)*, December 1987, sections (2) "Initial Goals" and (3) "Description and Classification of Sites (DACOS)." CIA-RDP96-00787R000300100001-9. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000300100001-9
[^22]: May, *Enhanced Human Performance Investigation (U)*, December 1987, sections (4) "Results of Testing DACOS with Actual Remote Viewing Data" and (5) "Shortcomings of DACOS." CIA-RDP96-00787R000300100001-9. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000300100001-9
[^23]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science*, vol. 5, chapter "September Eleven," entries "Hummingbird. Monday 29 September 2003" and "Austin. Thursday 2 October 2003," pp. 200-205.
[^24]: United Nations General Assembly, 33rd session, document A/33/512, "Establishment of an agency or a department of the United Nations for undertaking, co-ordinating and disseminating the results of research into unidentified flying objects and related phenomena: Report of the Special Political Committee," December 16, 1978, paras. 1-9 and the recommended decision. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/660888
[^25]: United Nations General Assembly, 33rd session, Special Political Committee, summary record of the 35th meeting, November 27, 1978, A/SPC/33/SR.35, paras. 1-22 (statements of Mr. Gairy, Mr. Friday, Mr. Hynek, Mr. Vallee and Lt. Col. Coyne). https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=A%2FSPC%2F33%2FSR.35&l=en&t=pdf
[^26]: United Nations General Assembly, 33rd session, Special Political Committee, summary record of the 47th meeting, December 8, 1978, A/SPC/33/SR.47, paras. 1-8 (working paper 1 adopted by consensus). https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=A%2FSPC%2F33%2FSR.47&l=en&t=pdf
[^27]: United Nations General Assembly, 33rd session, 87th plenary meeting, December 18, 1978, A/33/PV.87, decision 33/426. https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=A%2F33%2FPV.87&l=en&t=pdf
[^28]: Juan Acevedo, Ralph Bunche Institute post on Jacques Vallée and the United Nations, June 1, 2026. https://ralphbuncheinstitute.org/jacques-vallee-uap-and-the-united-nations-a-global-call-ignored/
[^29]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Tuesday 21 June 1966," pp. 189-190. https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^30]: Vallée, *Forbidden Science: Journals 1957-1969*, entry "Chicago. Monday 15 May 1967." https://archive.org/details/vallee-jacques-forbidden-science_202407
[^31]: Garry P. Nolan, Jacques F. Vallee, Sizun Jiang and Larry G. Lemke, "Improved instrumental techniques, including isotopic analysis, applicable to the characterization of unusual materials with potential relevance to aerospace forensics," *Progress in Aerospace Sciences* 128 (January 2022), article 100788, doi:10.1016/j.paerosci.2021.100788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paerosci.2021.100788
[^32]: Knuth et al., "The New Science of Unidentified Aerospace-Undersea Phenomena (UAP)," arXiv:2502.06794v2, section 5.3.2 "Council Bluffs, Iowa USA," citing Vallée, "Physical analyses in ten cases of unexplained aerial objects with material samples," *Journal of Scientific Exploration* 12 (3) (1998) 359-375, and the Nolan et al. paper. https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06794
[^33]: Luis Elizondo, *Imminent* (William Morrow, 2024), passages on the Council Bluffs slag analysis, AATIP and Vallée's career.
[^34]: The Good Trouble Show, "Jacques Vallée on the First Peer-Reviewed UFO Paper in Progress in Aerospace Sciences," August 24, 2025. https://thegoodtroubleshow.substack.com/p/jacques-vallee-on-the-first-peer
[^35]: Jason Colavito, "A Strange Account of Jacques Vallée's Efforts at Reputation Management," January 18, 2018. https://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/a-strange-account-of-jacques-vallees-efforts-at-reputation-management
[^36]: Mark O'Connell, *The Close Encounters Man* (2017), as reported in Colavito, "A Strange Account of Jacques Vallée's Efforts at Reputation Management" (January 18, 2018). https://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/a-strange-account-of-jacques-vallees-efforts-at-reputation-management
[^37]: Jason Colavito, "New Book from Jacques Vallée Claims Evidence for 1945 New Mexico UFO Crash," May 7, 2021, quoting the press release for the revised edition of Jacques Vallée and Paola Harris, *Trinity: The Best-Kept Secret*. https://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/new-book-from-jacques-vallee-claims-evidence-for-1945-new-mexico-ufo-crash
[^38]: Nextgov, "NASA Partners With Venture Capital Group," September 20, 2006. https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2006/09/nasa-partners-with-venture-capital-group/233363
[^39]: Satellite Today, "NASA Partners With Venture Capital Firm," September 22, 2006 (Red Planet Capital Inc., San Mateo; principals Banks, Burnette and Vallée; NASA investment of about $75 million over five years). https://www.satellitetoday.com/uncategorized/2006/09/22/nasa-partners-with-venture-capital-firm/
[^40]: Jacques Vallée, "Anges et investisseurs dans la Silicon Valley," *Revue française de comptabilité* no. 388 (May 2006), pp. 111 ff., reproducing a seminar of December 14, 2005 at the École de Paris du management, with the editors' note 2 on Vallée's fund roles. Computer History Museum archive copy 102784081-05-01 (French). https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2018/07/102784081-05-01-acc.pdf
[^41]: National Institute for Discovery Science, "Personnel and Science Advisory Board," nidsci.org, Internet Archive capture of December 6, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001206032200/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html
[^42]: National Institute for Discovery Science, personnel page, Internet Archive captures of June 22, 2000 (https://web.archive.org/web/20000622040455/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html), August 6, 2001 (https://web.archive.org/web/20010806075913/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html), October 4, 2002 (https://web.archive.org/web/20021004033623/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html), April 2, 2004 (https://web.archive.org/web/20040402072119/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.html) and May 9, 2008 (https://web.archive.org/web/20080509140330/http://www.nidsci.org/personnel.php).
[^43]: Knuth et al., "The New Science of Unidentified Aerospace-Undersea Phenomena (UAP)," arXiv:2502.06794v2, section on the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena ("Jacques Vallée who also served on their Advisory Board"), and Appendix A.17. https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06794
[^44]: Micah Hanks, "The Sol Foundation, Academia's New UAP Think Tank, Releases Videos of Lectures from Its Inaugural Symposium," *The Debrief*, February 12, 2024. https://thedebrief.org/the-sol-foundation-academias-new-uap-think-tank-releases-videos-of-lectures-from-its-inaugural-symposium/
[^45]: Jacques Vallée, *Passport to Magonia* (Chicago: Henry Regnery, 1969), Internet Archive copy. https://archive.org/details/270532257-passport-to-magonia

12
10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Louis Jolyon West.md
View file

@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ tags:
- MKULTRA
- LSD
- CIA
summary: "UCLA psychiatrist and confirmed CIA contractor who killed an elephant with a massive LSD overdose in 1962, examined Jack Ruby, and proposed a government-funded Center for the Study of Violence to recondition criminals using experimental mind control techniques."
summary: "UCLA psychiatrist and CIA contractor who gave an elephant a massive LSD dose in 1962, examined Jack Ruby, and proposed a government-funded Center for the Study of Violence."
born: 1924-10-06
died: 1999-01-02
location: Los Angeles, California
created: 2026-06-03
updated: 2026-06-03
updated: 2026-10-12
---
Louis Jolyon "Jolly" West was a psychiatrist who chaired the [[UCLA]] Department of Psychiatry and directed the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute from 1969 to 1989. A confirmed [[CIA]] contractor cleared at Top Secret level, West conducted research under [[MKULTRA]] Subproject 43. His career intersected with some of the most controversial experiments and investigations of the Cold War era.[^1][^2]
@ -26,9 +26,11 @@ In 1963, West was appointed as the examining psychiatrist for [[Jack Ruby]], who
West proposed creating a government-funded Center for the Study of Violence in [[California]] that would have used experimental mind control techniques to mentally recondition criminals. The center would have employed drug therapy, sensory deprivation, and psychological conditioning on incarcerated subjects. Then-Governor [[Ronald Reagan]] initially supported the center, but when public opinion shifted against West following criticism of his methods and his MKULTRA associations, Reagan withdrew his backing and the project was abandoned.[^1]
The Center for the Study and Reduction of Violence was proposed under the Neuropsychiatric Institute of the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] and sought federal funding through the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]]. Its September 1, 1972 project description listed five lines of research, among them biological and neurological studies of violent individuals and "psychological factors" research on external influences on violence.[^3] The subcommittee's print quotes a memorandum by a staff psychologist at Atascadero State Hospital, one of the institutions participating in the planned center, describing an electro-physiological laboratory able to record heart rate, galvanic skin response, changes in penis volume and alpha and beta brain waves in response to audio-visual stimuli.[^3] West, as director of the proposed center, discussed acquiring an old Nike missile base in the Santa Monica Mountains for it, and the subcommittee quoted the letter's description of the site as "accessible, but relatively remote."[^3] The planned satellite facilities included the state hospitals at Atascadero, Camarillo and [[Vacaville]].[^3] A memorandum of April 5, 1973 by the Committee Opposing Psychiatric Abuse of Prisoners, printed in the subcommittee's appendix, recorded that Ronald Reagan had announced the center in his January 1973 State of the State message.[^4] A letter from LEAA printed in the subcommittee's appendix states that the agency had not received the UCLA project for funding consideration.[^3]
### Victorian Crash Pad, Roger Smith, and the Manson Parole
During the late 1960s, West operated a CIA-funded facility near the [[Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic]] in [[San Francisco]], refitting a Victorian house as a fake "hippie crash pad" to study drug addiction and counterculture behavior. [[Charles Manson]] attended weekly meetings with his parole officer [[Roger Smith]] at the clinic following his release from [[Terminal Island]] on March 21, 1967, the same year the CIA launched [[Operation CHAOS]]. Members of the [[Manson Family]] used the clinic for medical treatment. West's proximity to Manson's parole supervision has been identified as circumstantial evidence suggesting intelligence community interest in Manson. West's files from the Haight-Ashbury period have reportedly gone missing.[^3]
During the late 1960s, West operated a CIA-funded facility near the [[Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic]] in [[San Francisco]], refitting a Victorian house as a fake "hippie crash pad" to study drug addiction and counterculture behavior. [[Charles Manson]] attended weekly meetings with his parole officer [[Roger Smith]] at the clinic following his release from [[Terminal Island]] on March 21, 1967, the same year the CIA launched [[Operation CHAOS]]. Members of the [[Manson Family]] used the clinic for medical treatment. West's proximity to Manson's parole supervision has been identified as circumstantial evidence suggesting intelligence community interest in Manson. West's files from the Haight-Ashbury period have reportedly gone missing.[^5]
### Sleep Deprivation Research
@ -38,4 +40,6 @@ In 1959, West conducted a well-publicized sleep deprivation experiment with radi
[^1]: A.B.H. Alexander, "Sex, Drugs, the CIA, MIND CONTROL and Your Children," PROBE, c. 1996.
[^2]: Science, Vol. 138, Issue 3545, December 7, 1962, pp. 1100-1103; hekint.org, "Louis Jolyon West, M.D.: A Dangerous Doctor," January 25, 2024.
[^3]: Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring, *Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties*. Little, Brown and Company, 2019.
[^3]: U.S. Senate, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights, Individual Rights and the Federal Role in Behavior Modification, committee print (Washington: GPO, November 1974), pp. 36-38, NCJRS digitization. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/142690NCJRS.pdf
[^4]: Individual Rights and the Federal Role in Behavior Modification, appendix memorandum of the Committee Opposing Psychiatric Abuse of Prisoners, April 5, 1973.
[^5]: Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring, *Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties*. Little, Brown and Company, 2019.