Fox says Brazil’s ex-defence minister told US declassification could trigger Brazilian release
"Jesse called me up and he's like, dude, I'm getting an interview with the former Minister of Defense, Aldo Rebelo. He's running for president, and he's basically saying the incident happened, and if the Americans would declassify, the Brazilians could probably follow."
About this episode
Flagrant hosts interview UFO filmmaker and investigator James Fox, who argues that public attitudes towards UAP changed sharply after the 2017 New York Times reporting on a Pentagon programme and the release of the “tic tac” video. Fox frames decades of sightings as evidence of objects demonstrating advanced technology, and claims official secrecy has often relied on ridicule and intimidation.
A large portion of the episode centres on the 1996 Varginha, Brazil case. Fox alleges a cylindrical craft crashed near a farm, that entities survived, and that a military policeman later died after handling one. He says he has interviewed doctors, forensic staff and a nurse who, he claims, corroborate neurosurgeon Dr Italo Venturelli’s account of seeing a live “creature” in a hospital ICU; Fox concedes some elements remain speculative and not independently verifiable in the discussion. He also claims US Air Force aircraft landed in Brazil without authorisation and that a former Brazilian defence minister has said the incident happened.
Fox says US Congressman Eric Burlison, working with whistleblower David Grusch, has launched an investigation into Varginha and is pressing US agencies for records after a FOIA response that “neither confirm nor deny”. Elsewhere, Fox revisits the 1990 Calvine photograph case and allegations of “men in suits” intimidating witnesses, and recounts being briefed in a SCIF where, he says, an AARO official told him DoD approval controls what can be released.
The hosts also discuss purported links between UAP and nuclear sites, disputed theories about reverse-engineering, and the likelihood and impact of disclosure.
Key takeaways
- James Fox says the 2017 New York Times reporting on a Pentagon UAP programme shifted mainstream attitudes and investment.
- Fox alleges the 1996 Varginha incident involved a craft crash, surviving entities and extensive Brazilian military activity, citing multiple witness interviews.
- Fox claims a nurse and neurosurgeon provided corroborating accounts of a live entity in a hospital ICU, though the evidence is presented as testimonial.
- Fox alleges US Air Force aircraft landed in Brazil without authorisation after the incident and that US personnel removed material.
- Fox says Congressman Eric Burlison and whistleblower David Grusch have opened a US inquiry into Varginha and are seeking agency records after a FOIA refusal.
- Fox recounts allegations of witness intimidation in the Calvine, Scotland case and says such patterns recur across UAP reports.
- Fox says an AARO official told him in a SCIF that DoD approval determines whether findings can be released publicly.