David Grusch SUES Sheriff’s Office For illegally Releasing Records
David Grush, a retired Air Force officer and UFO whistleblower, has filed a lawsuit against the Lundon County Sheriff's Office. The suit alleges that the office improperly released his personal medical information in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
The lawsuit stems from events following Grush's testimony before Congress about alleged government involvement in UFO-related programs. A reporter subsequently obtained and published details about Grush's past mental health evaluation, which Grush claims should have been protected under Virginia law. The case raises questions about the handling of sensitive personal information and the potential consequences for whistleblowers.
Key Takeaways
A UFO whistleblower is suing a sheriff's office for releasing his medical records
The lawsuit claims the release violated Virginia's Freedom of Information Act
The case highlights tensions between public information access and personal privacy
David Grush Lawsuit Details
David Grush, a retired Air Force officer who testified about alleged government UFO programs, has filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against Lundon County Sheriff Mike Chapman and an unnamed employee. The suit, filed on July 16, 2024, alleges improper release of Grush's medical information in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
The lawsuit stems from an incident on July 30, 2023, when a sheriff's office employee provided reporter Ken Klippenstein with an incident report about Grush's involuntary psychiatric evaluation in 2018. This occurred shortly after Grush's congressional testimony about secret UFO retrieval programs.
Grush argues the release violated Virginia's FOIA laws, which exclude involuntary admission records from disclosure. The sheriff's office maintains they acted lawfully in responding to the request.
The released information led to an article in The Intercept, detailing Grush's 2018 mental health evaluation. Grush claims this disclosure has caused personal and professional harm.
Key points of the lawsuit include:
$2.5 million in damages sought
Allegation of improper release of medical records
Dispute over interpretation of Virginia FOIA laws
Potential impact on Grush's credibility and career
The case raises questions about privacy rights, government transparency, and the handling of sensitive personal information in FOIA requests.
The Legal Battle and Records Release
Lawsuit Filing in July
On July 16, 2024, David Grusch filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against Lunden County Sheriff Mike Chapman and an unnamed employee of the sheriff's office. The suit alleges improper release of Grusch's personal medical information in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
FOIA Request and Incident Report
Four days after Grusch's congressional testimony about alleged government UFO programs, reporter Ken Klippenstein submitted a FOIA request to the Lunden County Sheriff's Office. In response, the office provided an incident report from October 2018 detailing an emergency custody order for Grusch's involuntary psychiatric evaluation.
Key details from the incident report:
Grusch's wife called the sheriff's office reporting he was intoxicated and having a mental health crisis
A magistrate issued an 8-hour emergency custody order
Grusch was evaluated but not committed and subsequently released
Sheriff's Office Response
The sheriff's office maintains they acted lawfully in fulfilling the FOIA request. A spokesman stated they disagree with the allegations in Grusch's lawsuit.
Grusch's lawsuit contends:
Virginia FOIA law prohibits release of involuntary admission records
The sheriff's office had no authority to disclose this information
The released information caused personal and professional harm
The case revolves around whether the incident report falls under protected medical records or public information. Its outcome may have implications for handling sensitive personal data in FOIA requests.
Legal Ramifications of the Case
Protection of Involuntary Admission Records
The lawsuit centers on the alleged unauthorized release of David Grush's medical information. Virginia law specifically prohibits the disclosure of records related to involuntary admissions under the Freedom of Information Act. This legal protection aims to safeguard sensitive personal health data from public scrutiny.
The Sheriff's Office claims they acted in accordance with the law when responding to the FOIA request. However, the lawsuit contends that the release of Grush's involuntary admission records was illegal. This dispute highlights the complexities surrounding the interpretation and application of FOIA exemptions for medical records.
Potential Consequences for David Grush
The release of Grush's medical records has potentially far-reaching implications for his personal and professional life. The lawsuit alleges that the publication of this information in The Intercept article caused Grush significant harm.
Key potential impacts include:
Damage to professional reputation
Questions about security clearance status
Personal distress and privacy invasion
The $2.5 million lawsuit seeks compensation for these alleged damages. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how similar situations are handled in the future, balancing public interest against individual privacy rights.
Ken Klippenstein's Role
Ken Klippenstein, a reporter for The Intercept, filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Lundon County Sheriff's Office on July 30, 2023. This request came just 4 days after David Grusch's testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
The Sheriff's Office provided Klippenstein with an incident report detailing a 2018 emergency custody order for Grusch. This report included information about Grusch's involuntary detention for psychiatric evaluation.
On August 9, 2023, The Intercept published an article by Klippenstein featuring a redacted version of the incident report. The article revealed that Grusch's wife had called the Sheriff's Office to report he was intoxicated and experiencing a mental health crisis.
Klippenstein's reporting questioned why Grusch maintained his security clearance after the 2018 incident. The article gained significant attention and sparked controversy in the UFO research community.
In an interview on the show "Breaking Points," Klippenstein defended his reporting. He stated that Pentagon insider sources had guided him to request these specific records from the Sheriff's Office.
UFO Whistleblower's Legal Action Against Sheriff's Office
Release of Confidential Medical Report
David Grusch, a former Air Force officer who testified about alleged government UFO programs, filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office in July 2024. The suit alleges that the sheriff's office improperly disclosed Grusch's private medical information in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. This request came from journalist Ken Klippenstein shortly after Grusch's congressional testimony.
The lawsuit claims that a sheriff's office employee provided Klippenstein with an incident report detailing Grusch's involuntary detention for a psychiatric evaluation in October 2018. According to Virginia law, such records are typically exempt from FOIA disclosures.
Concerns Over Security Clearance Status
The Intercept published an article in August 2023 featuring a redacted version of the incident report. This report described a situation where Grusch's wife called law enforcement due to his alleged intoxication and mental health crisis.
The article raised questions about Grusch's security clearance, noting that such clearances have strict requirements. It specifically inquired why Grusch maintained his clearance after the 2018 incident.
Grusch's lawsuit states that this article caused him significant personal and professional harm. The sheriff's office maintains that it acted in accordance with the law when responding to the FOIA request, a claim disputed by Grusch's legal team.
Public Reaction and Expert Commentary
David Grush's Legal Action
David Grush, a retired Air Force officer who testified about alleged government UFO programs, has filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against Lundon County Sheriff Mike Chapman and an unnamed employee. The suit claims unauthorized release of Grush's medical information in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
Grush contends the sheriff's office improperly disclosed sensitive details about his medical history on July 30, 2023. The lawsuit argues that reports related to involuntary psychiatric evaluations are exempt from release under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act.
The disputed records pertain to a 2018 incident where Grush underwent a psychiatric evaluation. Though initially held for assessment, he was not committed and was subsequently released.
Media Coverage Backlash
Ken Klippenstein, a reporter for The Intercept, requested the records shortly after Grush's congressional testimony. The Intercept later published an article featuring a redacted version of the incident report.
Klippenstein's reporting sparked controversy. Some questioned the timing and motivations behind the records request. Klippenstein stated in an interview that Pentagon sources directed him to the specific sheriff's office for information.
The article's publication resulted in personal and professional repercussions for Grush, according to the lawsuit. It raised questions about Grush's security clearance status following the 2018 incident.
This case highlights tensions between public interest journalism, privacy rights, and the complexities surrounding UFO-related claims. The outcome may have implications for how sensitive personal information is handled in high-profile cases.
