DoD: Destruction of Elizondo's AATIP-related emails confirmed
The Department of Defense acknowledged destroying electronic correspondence belonging to a former intelligence officer. These records pertained to the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. The admission followed a three-year Freedom of Information Act process.
Background
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed exclusively via TheBlackVault.com (FOIA) that electronic mail records of Luis Elizondo no longer exist. Elizondo, a former counterintelligence specialist, claimed leadership of the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. The confirmation emerged after a prolonged Freedom of Information Act battle lasting multiple years. Officials stated that former employee accounts are not retained unless designated historical records. No duplicate copies of the communications appear available. Questions remain whether proper archival protocols were followed before deletion occurred. The destruction potentially impacts verification of Elizondo's claimed responsibilities within the secretive UFO research effort.