Brief
Majestic 12 (MJ-12)
The claims the writer was given for Majestic 12 (MJ-12), in the order they were given.
1
The subject discussed between Oke Shannon and Will Miller related to a Boston Globe story by Leslie Kean, the UFO topic, crashed and retrieved UFO craft and bodies, and a Majestic 12 (MJ-12) -like UFO organisation or cabal.
“Re: Boston Globe Story - L. Kean. Yep, UFO topic - crashed/retrieved UFO craft/bodies, etc. MJ-12 like UFO organization (or cabal).”
EWD Notes - Eric Davis Meeting with Adm. Wilson 2002-10-16 char:1063-1183 hearsay second hand
2
After the April 1997 Pentagon briefing group broke up, Will Miller and Thomas Wilson talked privately for two hours about UFOs, Majestic 12 (MJ-12), the 1947 Roswell UFO incident, and crashed UFOs and alien bodies.
“After group broke up, Miller/Wilson talked (privately) 2 hours on UFOs, MJ-12, Roswell, crashed UFOs/alien bodies, etc.”
EWD Notes - Eric Davis Meeting with Adm. Wilson 2002-10-16 char:1412-1527 testimony first hand
3
Thomas Wilson told the programme manager that he had read their programme record in the OUSDAT special programme records group and wanted to know about their crashed UFO programme and their role in it, and also asked if they had heard of Majestic 12 (MJ-12) or a similar organisation code relating to crashed or recovered UFO craft.
“TW: I told I read their program record in the OUSDAT special program records group and wanted to know about their crashed UFO program, what their role in that was, what they had, etc. Also asked if they heard of MJ-12 or some such organization code relating to crashed/recovered UFO craft.”
EWD Notes - Eric Davis Meeting with Adm. Wilson 2002-10-16 char:15027-15306 testimony first hand
4
Thomas Wilson confirmed he called Will Miller around late June 1997 and told him that Miller was right that a Majestic 12 (MJ-12)-like UFO organisation exists.
“Confirmed he called Miller ca. late June '97 and told that he/Miller was right - there is such an organization in existence.”
EWD Notes - Eric Davis Meeting with Adm. Wilson 2002-10-16 char:1738-1852 testimony first hand
5
The memo mailed to Jaime Shandera listed a group of twelve members of a new organisation called Majestic or MJ-12, tasked with dealing with the alien problem.
“It also listed a group of twelve members of a new organization tasked with dealing with the "alien problem." The group, called Majestic or "MJ 12,"”
Dark Mission 2010-07-22 ch12:70700-70843 administrative second hand
6
Vannevar Bush and Donald Menzel were both listed as founding members of Majestic 12 (MJ-12) in the memo mailed to Jaime Shandera.
“included both Bush and Menzel as founding members”
Dark Mission 2010-07-22 ch12:70848-70890 administrative second hand
7
Debunkers initially used the presence of Donald Menzel on the Majestic 12 list as proof the documents were forgeries, since Menzel had been a frequent public UFO debunker who had written three books on the subject.
“At first, debunkers used the presence of Menzel on the list as "proof" the documents were forgeries, since Menzel had been a frequent UFO debunker publicly (having written three books on the subject)”
Dark Mission 2010-07-22 ch12:70899-71090 administrative
8
Stanton Friedman, a long-time UFO researcher and nuclear physicist, went through Donald Menzel's papers as part of his research for a book on the Majestic 12 documents and discovered that Menzel had led an elaborate double life.
“long-time UFO researcher (and nuclear physicist) Stanton Friedman went painstakingly through Menzel's papers as part of his research for a book on the MJ 12 documents, and discovered that Menzel had led an elaborate double life”
Dark Mission 2010-07-22 ch12:71453-71676 testimony first hand
9
Stanton Friedman found numerous references to Donald Menzel's participation in a variety of intelligence projects and committees, including top-secret weapons programmes, that would have made Menzel an ideal candidate for Majestic 12.
“Friedman found numerous references to Menzel's participation in a variety of intelligence projects and committees, including some top-secret weapons programs that would have made him an ideal candidate for MJ 12.”
Dark Mission 2010-07-22 ch12:71682-71891 testimony first hand
10
Stanton Friedman argues for the validity of the Majestic 12 documents and the existence of Majestic 12 itself.
“Friedman also makes a compelling argument for the validity of the MJ 12 documents, and the existence of MJ 12 itself.”
Dark Mission 2010-07-22 ch12:71895-72005 opinion first hand
11
MJ-12 document researchers have identified Theodore von Karman as a possible member of MJ-12 based on his name appearing on certain newly unearthed documents.
“The MJ-12 document researchers have also identified Von Karman as a possible member of MJ-12—based on his name appearing on certain new documents they have been recently unearthed.”
Dark Mission 2010-07-22 ch12:79156-79328 hearsay second hand
12
Jonathan Caplan concludes that Majestic 12 (MJ-12) existed and that the associated documents are genuine.
“i conclude that a majestic 12 existed and that the documents are real”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:13:12.8-00:13:17.9 opinion first hand
13
Within one week of the Truman Directive of 24 September 1947 directing Vannevar Bush and James Forrestal to set up Majestic 12 (MJ-12) and report directly to him, Forrestal met with Henry Tizard, then chief scientific advisor to the UK Ministry of Defence, at the beginning of October 1947.
“within one week of the Truman directive to Bush and James Forrestal to, in fact, set up Majestic 12 and to report directly to him, at the beginning of October 1947, Forrestal then had a meeting with Sir Henry Tizard, who at that time was the chief scientific advisor to the Ministry of Defence.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:13:30.1-00:13:56.4 opinion first hand
14
Jonathan Caplan believes it is extremely unlikely that James Forrestal did not tell Henry Tizard about Majestic 12 (MJ-12), which had been set up because of a recovered craft and associated biologics.
“it is extremely unlikely that Forrestal did not tell Sir Henry about Majestic 12, the reason that it had been set up because of the craft that had been found and the biologics that went with it.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:13:58.8-00:14:13.3 opinion first hand
15
Ross Coulthart considers the Majestic 12 (MJ-12) files authentic beyond doubt.
“I mean, no doubt whatsoever that they are authentic.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:16:28.0-00:16:30.4 opinion first hand
16
Ross Coulthart is not fully convinced that some subsequent Majestic 12 (MJ-12) documents were not deliberately planted disinformation.
“I'm yet to be convinced fully that there's not ... the possibility that there might have been deliberate disinformation planted in some of the subsequent MJ-12 documents.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:16:31.4-00:16:41.5 opinion first hand
17
A document referred to as the Truman Directive of 24 September 1947 was leaked in around 1980 to two filmmakers, and the resulting documents became known as the Majestic 12 documents.
“There was a Truman Directive 24th of September 1947 in a document that was leaked in 1980 or so to two filmmakers. And those documents became known as the Majestic 12 documents”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:16:47.6-00:17:01.9 administrative
18
The provenance of the Majestic 12 documents is officially disputed by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States military.
“the provenance of which is still, of course, disputed officially by the FBI and the US military.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:17:02.4-00:17:07.5 administrative
19
The Majestic 12 documents allegedly established Majestic 12 as the group responsible for the retrieval of non-human craft.
“they established allegedly Majestic 12 as the group responsible for the retrieval of non-human craft.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:17:08.8-00:17:17.1 administrative
20
Jonathan Caplan finds that the detail of the Majestic 12 documents corroborates contemporary diaries that were not released at the time, including the diaries of Harry S. Truman, James Forrestal, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
“the detail of the documents check out with contemporary diaries, which were not released at the time. The meetings that are referred to in the documents are reflected in the diaries of not just the president, but Forrestal, Eisenhower.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:20:15.5-00:20:30.3 opinion first hand
21
Jonathan Caplan has examined the diaries of the head of the United States Atomic Energy Commission and found they corroborate the Majestic 12 documents.
“I've looked at the diaries of the head of the Atomic Energy Commission, and it just does knit together.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:20:32.1-00:20:41.4 opinion first hand
22
Jonathan Caplan discounts the theory that the Majestic 12 documents are a counterintelligence operation, believing most of them are genuine.
“I really do discount that because ... the detail checks out, they are such a quantity of these documents, many of which don't have any counterintelligence consequence at all. And I'm pretty sure that most of them, not all of them, but most of them are genuine.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:20:51.1-00:21:11.5 opinion first hand
23
Debunkers claim that James Jesus Angleton, head of counterintelligence for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), created the Majestic 12 documents to disinform the Soviets into believing the Americans had recovered alien technology.
“the documents were conceived by James Jesus Angleton, the notorious head of counterintelligence for the CIA, who on the account that's given by the debunkers, he supposedly created these documents to disinform the Soviets into the belief that the Americans had recovered alien technology.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:21:18.3-00:21:38.0 hearsay second hand
24
Ross Coulthart does not accept the theory that James Jesus Angleton fabricated the Majestic 12 documents, given the vast trove of material and the detailed knowledge of names, details and events it would have required.
“it never washed with me because I can imagine creating, as you say, one document or a couple of documents or a few documents. This is a vast trove of material. And whoever conceived the documents clearly had a knowledge of names, details, events.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:21:39.9-00:22:01.5 opinion first hand
25
One of the Majestic 12 documents notes that at the time of a particular meeting the US president was at Blair House because the White House was being rebuilt, which Ross Coulthart considers an important corroborating detail.
“was it Truman or Eisenhower, one of the documents you talk about, the president was actually at Blair House because the White House was being rebuilt. And I thought that was a very important detail”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:22:08.9-00:22:19.2 opinion first hand
26
Ross Coulthart considers it extremely unlikely that James Forrestal and Vannevar Bush did not brief Henry Tizard on Majestic 12 (MJ-12) and the UFO issue at their October 1947 meeting.
“it's unlikely in the extreme that they didn't brief Tizard on the UFOs issue on Majestic.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:23:06.0-00:23:13.8 opinion first hand
27
Jonathan Caplan believes James Forrestal impressed on Henry Tizard that Majestic 12 (MJ-12) had to be kept secret, and that Tizard's team should limit the documents they produced, possibly for personal use only.
“it clearly is the case that Forrestal impressed on Tizard that this had to be kept under wraps that they should go away and do their own research and that they should limit the documents that they're producing, possibly only for his own personal use.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:23:56.4-00:24:14.7 opinion first hand
28
Jonathan Caplan considers it likely that the agreement referenced by Harry S. Truman at the Blair House meeting of 14 July 1949 relates to Majestic 12.
“But in the context of the discussion that we're having, it's very likely that it's something to do, I would say, with Majestic 12.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:25:44.6-00:25:52.6 opinion first hand
29
Jonathan Caplan examined the typography, printing, format, watermarks and terminology of the Majestic 12 documents, along with corroboration from other diaries, to verify their provenance.
“You've looked at the typography, the printing, the format, the watermarks, the terminology used, the corroboration from other diaries.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:25:59.3-00:26:08.0 administrative first hand
30
Jonathan Caplan found one or two typescript documents distributed among the Majestic 12 material, not purporting to be original 1940s or 1950s documents, which he believes were forged.
“I have found one or two documents which are not original, don't purport to be original documents of the time, but which are typescript documents which were disclosed amongst the Majestic 12 material, which I do believe were forged.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:27:19.5-00:27:37.8 opinion first hand
31
One forged typescript document among the Majestic 12 material, headed 'Truman and Congress', purports to be an account of Harry S. Truman being called to give evidence before the United States Congress in 1963 or 1964 about Majestic 12, in which he is embarrassed and gives various answers.
“And one of them is a document, I think, involving or headed Truman and Congress. And it purports to be an account of Truman being called to give evidence at Congress in 1963 or 1964, where he's asked about MJ-12 and he is embarrassed and gives various answers.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:27:38.9-00:28:07.4 administrative first hand
32
Many of the classic Majestic 12 documents came via Timothy Cooper, a United States Marine Corps veteran.
“So a lot of the classic MJ-12 documents came via a gentleman called Tim Cooper, Timothy Cooper, who was a US Marine Corps veteran”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:28:35.3-00:28:43.5 administrative first hand
33
Jonathan Caplan obtained key new documents that had been held by Ryan Wood, a keeper of the Majestic 12 archive.
“And you've obtained key new documents that were held by Ryan Wood, who's one of the keepers of the MJ-12 archive.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:28:57.5-00:29:06.8 administrative first hand
34
Jonathan Caplan met with Ryan Wood in Washington about two years before this interview and asked him whether Timothy Cooper had handed over all the Majestic 12 documents to his father.
“The two documents that are new came about because when I was in Washington about two years ago, I met with Ryan Wood And I asked him whether he felt that Tim Cooper had handed over all the Majestic documents to his father when his father visited him and obtained the original tranche.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:29:39.8-00:30:05.4 testimony first hand
35
One of the two newly found documents concerns the meeting at Blair House on 14 July 1949 and is part of an annex to a Majestic 12 report.
“One of them is the document of the meeting at Blair House on the 14th of July, 1949, which is part of an annex to a Majestic 12 report.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:31:01.1-00:31:13.8 administrative first hand
36
Another part of the annex to the Majestic 12 report on the Blair House meeting, comprising paragraphs nine onwards, had already been disclosed before the newly found pages covering paragraphs one to eight.
“Another part of that annex had already been disclosed. That was paragraphs nine, I think onwards. This is paragraphs one to eight, and this page had not been disclosed.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:31:15.4-00:31:26.5 administrative first hand
37
The newly disclosed page of the Blair House meeting annex discusses Harry S. Truman wanting to share some of the Majestic 12 material with US allies.
“And this is the page which talks about Truman wanting to share some of the Majestic material with his allies.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:31:28.1-00:31:39.4 administrative first hand
38
Ross Coulthart considers it his understanding that senior public servants are briefed by the Americans on Majestic 12-related matters, but it is very rare for elected politicians to be briefed in.
“it suggests that there are and this is certainly my understanding that there are senior public servants who are briefed in by the americans but that it's very rare for politicians to be briefed in”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:34:08.7-00:34:21.4 opinion first hand
39
James Lay appears in an earlier Majestic 12 document as having been consulted over the Roswell incident and having supported the establishment of Majestic 12 as a separate intelligence unit.
“And James Lay actually appears in an earlier Majestic 12 document as having been one of the people that was consulted over Roswell and who supported the establishment of MJ-12 as a separate intelligence unit.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:39:55.2-00:40:09.2 administrative second hand
40
Robert Amory, deputy director of intelligence at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), appears prominently in Majestic 12 documents and appears to have been writing presidential briefings at weekly intervals for the White House.
“Robert Amory, who was the deputy director of intelligence at the CIA, who appears to have been writing presidential briefings at weekly intervals to supply to the White House.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:40:54.6-00:41:07.0 administrative first hand
41
Jonathan Caplan considers that the quantity and detail of the Majestic 12 documents, much of which can now be confirmed, argues against them being forgeries.
“And it's the quantity of these documents, the detail in the documents, which can now be confirmed in many respects,”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:43:06.0-00:43:13.9 opinion first hand
42
Jonathan Caplan considers that some Majestic 12 documents are routine letter exchanges bearing an MJ-12 stamp with no counterintelligence benefit, which he sees as evidence against them being a fabrication requiring an army of people and a vast amount of sources.
“And also there are documents amongst the MJ-12 material which really don't have any particular counterintelligence benefit which are routine exchanges of letters between people with an MJ-12 stamp on and there's no purpose in creating that kind of material and you'd had to have had an army of people really who would have had to have had a vast amount of sources to put this material together the detail is impressive”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:43:15.2-00:43:51.0 opinion first hand
43
Jonathan Caplan considers the Majestic 12 documents confirmed by access to a range of now-available public documents.
“And as I say, it's confirmed by access to a range of public documents that are now available.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:43:53.8-00:43:59.7 opinion first hand
44
The newly found Majestic 12 documents were simply not handed over previously, largely a matter of what Timothy Cooper was prepared to give, with some material left behind.
“It just wasn't handed over. I think it was very much a question of getting what Tim Cooper was prepared to give them. And some of the material was left behind.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:44:15.6-00:44:26.4 opinion first hand
45
Among the recovered photographs were photographs of a number of people with 'MJ-12' written on the back, including scientists, many of whom were Paperclip scientists known from other sources to have worked for Majestic 12.
“also amongst those photographs were photographs of a number of people with MJ-12 on the back and these were um scientists many of them paperclip scientists who um we know from other sources um have worked for MJ-12”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:45:36.7-00:45:52.8 administrative first hand
46
John von Neumann, Leo Szilard and Edward Teller are among the scientists identified in the recovered photographs bearing 'MJ-12' on the back.
“And those are people like John von Neumann, zillard edward teller”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:45:54.6-00:46:02.7 administrative first hand
47
Eric Walker has told other ufologists, including William Steinman, that John von Neumann was working at Majestic 12.
“from other sources we know um that um for example uh dr eric walker has spoken to other uh ufologists many years ago william steinman to confirm um that van neumann actually was working at MJ-12”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:46:05.1-00:46:20.6 hearsay third hand
48
Eric Walker confirmed that he had worked at Majestic 12.
“and eric walker confirms he had worked at MJ-12”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:46:21.5-00:46:24.6 testimony second hand
49
Others working at the time on Majestic 12 projects have confirmed that John von Neumann was working on Majestic 12 projects.
“We know also that others have confirmed who were working at that time on these projects that van Neumann was working on MJ-12 projects.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:46:26.4-00:46:38.4 hearsay second hand
50
The Lancer document was one of the documents leaked amongst the Majestic 12 (MJ-12) Trove.
“this is one of the documents which was leaked amongst the Majestic 12 Trove”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 00:59:46.0-00:59:55.8 administrative first hand
51
The counterintelligence officer who disclosed the Lancer document as part of the Majestic 12 (MJ-12) Trove said it was the last piece of evidence that would tie the Central Intelligence Agency to John F. Kennedy's assassination.
“in sending the document and disclosing it as part of the Majestic 12 Trove, he said look this is the last piece of evidence that will tie the CIA into Kennedy's assassination”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 01:00:53.6-01:01:05.9 hearsay second hand
52
The Lancer document is an overt expression of intention by members of the alleged Majestic 12 (MJ-12) group to murder the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy.
“It is chilling because it's an overt expression of intention by members of the alleged MJ-12 to murder the President of the United States.”
Watergate, the JFK assassination and a UFO secret at the center of it all | Reality Check 2026-06-18 01:01:55.4-01:02:09.5 opinion first hand
53
Chris Ramsay has heard unattributed stories that Dan Burisch is under house arrest somewhere in Canada, is not to be approached, and is watched by former Majestic 12 (MJ-12) associated personnel who cannot be got close to.
“There's so many weird stories I hear around Dan Burrish and like that he's under house arrest somewhere in Canada and that like do not approach. Like he's being literally babysat by like ex-MJ-12 like type cats that you can't even get close to.”
Jesse Michels, UAPGerb & Chris Ramsay - Flying Saucer Diner 2026-07-17 00:41:05.2-00:41:20.1 hearsay second hand
54
UAP Gerb characterises the personnel watching Dan Burisch as deputies of Majestic 12 (MJ-12).
“Like MJ-12 deputies essentially.”
Jesse Michels, UAPGerb & Chris Ramsay - Flying Saucer Diner 2026-07-17 00:41:24.3-00:41:25.7 opinion first hand
55
Chris Ramsay understands that once a person leaves the scope of Majestic 12 (MJ-12) they are not permitted to lead a normal life and are placed under strict surveillance.
“Like, once you're out of the MJ-12 scope, you're not allowed to just lead a normal life type deal. You're under... strict surveillance.”
Jesse Michels, UAPGerb & Chris Ramsay - Flying Saucer Diner 2026-07-17 00:41:28.1-00:41:35.3 hearsay second hand