While questions about the reinstating of Capt. Brett Crozier and the COVID-19 outbreak onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt go unanswered, the Navy decided to release video footage of "unidentified aerial phenomena" from 2005 and 2015.
The "UFO" videos circulated through the media in 2007 and 2017 after "unauthorized" releases. On both occasions, requests were made that the Navy release the official videos or at least confirm the phenomena seen in those being circulated.
"After a thorough review, the department has determined that the authorized release of these unclassified videos does not reveal any sensitive capabilities or systems, and does not impinge on any subsequent investigations of military air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena," a Department of Defense release read.
The decision to release the videos now -- as questions about Crozier and COVID-19 abound -- raised some questions, but interesting public affairs decisions seem to be the Navy's current public affairs SOP.
On Friday, the New York Times first reported that senior Navy officials wanted to reinstate the USS Theodore Roosevelt's ousted captain. In a surprise move, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper delayed the decision.
SECDEF delays reinstating dismissed USS Theodore Roosevelt captain, reports say
Meanwhile, close to 1,000 sailors on board Crozier's vessel have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Navy.
Monday, the day the Navy released its UFO videos, was also the first day since mid-March that the Pentagon did not release a daily update on the number of COVID-19 cases across the force.
"DOD is releasing the videos in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos," the DoD statement regarding the UFOs concluded.
Do aliens exist? Marine veteran investigates UFOs on Discovery Channel
--