MJ-12 files
MJ-12 files Courtesy of FBI

A former CIA insider has thrown open one of the most controversial files in UFO history. Scotty Newton Miler, an FBI whistleblower and Church Committee witness, claims that the majority of the MJ-12, also called Majestic-12, documents are authentic.

These papers, first surfacing in the 1980s, have long been dismissed by mainstream sources as hoaxes or disinformation, yet new declassified material from the Trump-era JFK releases has reignited debate over their credibility.

How the MJ-12 Documents First Emerged

The mysterious documents first appeared in mid-December 1984 when Los Angeles television writer Jamie Shandera received an unmarked package containing an undeveloped 35mm film roll. Bearing a New Mexico postmark but no return address, the film revealed what appeared to be classified briefing documents concerning an alleged government programme studying extraterrestrial phenomena.

Shandera, intrigued, shared the findings with ufologist William Moore, co-author of The Roswell Incident. Their investigation eventually uncovered the related 'Cutler-Twining memo' in the National Archives in 1985, considered a potential corroboration of the leak.

It was not until 1987 that the wider public became aware of the documents, when British ufologist Timothy Good received a copy from an alleged intelligence source. Moore and Shandera then released their versions to the press. Despite mainstream scepticism, some of the original insiders now argue the papers may have been partially genuine, though possibly mixed with disinformation.

Scotty Newton Miler's Revelations

Newton, also known as 'Source S-1,' was closely aligned with CIA counterintelligence chief James Jesus Angleton and testified alongside him during the Church Committee hearings of the 1970s. Following his retirement from the CIA in 1974, Newton led the New Mexico chapter of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, where he networked with other intelligence professionals.

Newton has now confirmed he leaked the MJ-12 documents, asserting their legitimacy. He claims that certain previously doubted files, including the A.A.W.S.A.P. B.A.A.S.S. ten-month report and the 'Kona Blue' document, are authentic. According to Newton, these papers were intended strictly for high-level SCI-F access and were never meant for public consumption. His statements suggest a deliberate suppression and disinformation campaign orchestrated by the CIA's Office of Global Access, aimed at discrediting genuine evidence of extraterrestrial visitation.

Trump-Era Declassifications Bring New Evidence

The debate over MJ-12 has intensified following the declassification of thousands of pages from the JFK assassination records under President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14176, signed in January 2025. The releases, managed by the National Archives, exposed previously withheld documents and brought attention to Newton's leak. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets scrutinised the releases, examining potential CIA cover-ups and misleading of Congress.

Within these declassified records, researchers uncovered supporting evidence for the MJ-12 files. Dr James Lakatski, who had access to the original S.A.P. documents, confirmed that the 'Kona Blue' report referred to historical events rather than a future plan. This lends credence to Newton's assertion that the MJ-12 papers are not mere fabrications but part of a highly controlled intelligence programme.

Implications of the MJ-12 Credibility

If Newton's claims are accurate, the implications are staggering. They suggest the US government maintained a sophisticated suppression programme to control information about extraterrestrial activity on Earth, dating back thousands of years. References within the files indicate interstellar visitation may have occurred as far back as 12,000 years ago, challenging conventional historical narratives.

The controversy also highlights the role of government 'debunkers' and disinformation agents, allegedly funded to protect sensitive programs. Even decades after the initial leak, mainstream agencies such as the FBI and the Air Force officially labelled the MJ-12 papers as fakes. However, Newton's whistleblowing and recent corroborations indicate that these denials may have been part of a broader cover-up.

With the MJ-12 files now resurfacing and further corroborated by credible insiders, the conversation about UFOs and government transparency is far from over. The documents continue to stir debate among ufologists, historians, and intelligence professionals, suggesting that the story of extraterrestrial encounters may be more than just myth or legend.

Originally published on IBTimes UK