David Grusch, UFO Whistleblower, Files Lawsuit Over a Potential Privacy Breach in a FOIA Request
Alien Life & UFO/UAPs
Tuesday 6th, August 2024
David Grusch, a former U.S. intelligence officer and prominent UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) whistleblower, has initiated legal action against the Loudon County Sheriff’s Department in Virginia. The lawsuit, filed on the 16th of July 2024, demands €1.92 million in damages, alleging that the department unlawfully released his confidential medical records.
The incident at the heart of the lawsuit occurred when the sheriff’s department responded to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and released records detailing Grusch’s mental health treatment. These records, which covered incidents in 2014 and 2018, were featured in an article published by The Intercept on the 9th of August 2023. Grusch argues that the release of these documents was a serious breach of his privacy, potentially violating Virginia’s state laws and federal privacy regulations.
The records disclosed by the sheriff’s department revealed two occasions when police were dispatched to Grusch’s home in Leesburg, Virginia, approximately 64 kilometres northwest of Washington, D.C. due to concerns about his mental health. The most significant incident occurred in 2018, when Grusch received treatment for severe depression. This episode was reportedly triggered by combat related PTSD and the recent death of a close friend. Despite these challenges, Grusch has stated that he has since fully recovered, saying in an interview with NewsNation on the 8th of August 2023, “I’m proud as a veteran not to become a statistic. Totally took care of that issue in my life and it doesn’t affect me anymore”.
Grusch, who served in Afghanistan, has been transparent about his past struggles with mental health, disclosing them prior to his public claims about UAP related programmes being hidden from Congressional oversight. His lawyer contends that the release of his medical records was not only a violation of his privacy but also a potential violation of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act. This act specifically exempts certain types of records, including those related to involuntary commitment or mental health treatment, from being released under FOIA requests.
In the lawsuit, Grusch’s legal team points to section 37.2-818 of the Code of Virginia, which states that “recordings, records, reports, and documents” related to commitment hearings for involuntary admission “shall not be subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act”. They argue that the sheriff’s department violated this provision by releasing Grusch’s records without proper authorisation. Additionally, they argue that the release may have also breached federal HIPAA regulations, which protect the privacy of individuals’ health information.
“This privacy right should have been taken into account when the details of David’s mental trauma and personal health issues and treatment were considered for release under the FOI laws”, said investigative journalist Ross Coulthart in a NewsNation segment aired on the 31st of July 2024. He emphasised that “all US citizens have very important privacy rights in law under the HIPAA Privacy Rule”, which sets strict standards for the disclosure of protected health information.
The release of Grusch’s records has been criticised by some as an attempt to discredit him following his whistleblowing activities. Tracy Walder, a former CIA staff operations officer, described the publication of these details as part of “a smear campaign”.
The incident at the heart of the lawsuit occurred when the sheriff’s department responded to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and released records detailing Grusch’s mental health treatment. These records, which covered incidents in 2014 and 2018, were featured in an article published by The Intercept on the 9th of August 2023. Grusch argues that the release of these documents was a serious breach of his privacy, potentially violating Virginia’s state laws and federal privacy regulations.
The records disclosed by the sheriff’s department revealed two occasions when police were dispatched to Grusch’s home in Leesburg, Virginia, approximately 64 kilometres northwest of Washington, D.C. due to concerns about his mental health. The most significant incident occurred in 2018, when Grusch received treatment for severe depression. This episode was reportedly triggered by combat related PTSD and the recent death of a close friend. Despite these challenges, Grusch has stated that he has since fully recovered, saying in an interview with NewsNation on the 8th of August 2023, “I’m proud as a veteran not to become a statistic. Totally took care of that issue in my life and it doesn’t affect me anymore”.
Grusch, who served in Afghanistan, has been transparent about his past struggles with mental health, disclosing them prior to his public claims about UAP related programmes being hidden from Congressional oversight. His lawyer contends that the release of his medical records was not only a violation of his privacy but also a potential violation of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act. This act specifically exempts certain types of records, including those related to involuntary commitment or mental health treatment, from being released under FOIA requests.
In the lawsuit, Grusch’s legal team points to section 37.2-818 of the Code of Virginia, which states that “recordings, records, reports, and documents” related to commitment hearings for involuntary admission “shall not be subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act”. They argue that the sheriff’s department violated this provision by releasing Grusch’s records without proper authorisation. Additionally, they argue that the release may have also breached federal HIPAA regulations, which protect the privacy of individuals’ health information.
“This privacy right should have been taken into account when the details of David’s mental trauma and personal health issues and treatment were considered for release under the FOI laws”, said investigative journalist Ross Coulthart in a NewsNation segment aired on the 31st of July 2024. He emphasised that “all US citizens have very important privacy rights in law under the HIPAA Privacy Rule”, which sets strict standards for the disclosure of protected health information.
The release of Grusch’s records has been criticised by some as an attempt to discredit him following his whistleblowing activities. Tracy Walder, a former CIA staff operations officer, described the publication of these details as part of “a smear campaign”.
