My name is George Knapp and for 30 years, I've been an investigative reporter. Ask me anything.

For three decades, I have been a working journalist in America's most interesting (and arguably most corrupt) city. As with old buildings and whores, if you stick around long enough, you become somewhat respectable, and to my utter amazement, I have become the one of the most recognizable and most honored journalist in this wild and wacky state.

I am the chief investigative reporter at KLAS TV, the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas and the premier news organization in Nevada. I also write a weekly newspaper column for Las Vegas City Life, and on weekends, I am a twice-monthly host of the radio show Coast to Coast AM.

I have earned my share of journalistic accolades--some of which will mean nothing to those who aren't in the business--- but a few of which are a source of pride around here. Twice in the past four years, I have been honored with a Peabody Award, the highest honor in broadcast journalism, the Oscar of TV News. (It is unusual for a local TV station to win one and very unusual for the same station to win two.) Earlier this year, our I-Team was also honored with the Dupont Award from Columbia University, which is as big as it gets. My photographer and I have also twice been selected by the Society of Professional Journalists as national winners for our investigative reports. And along the way, I have grabbed 23 regional Emmy Awards for investigative reporting, commentary, environmental reporting, crime reporting, and a few other categories that probably don't mean much to people who might be ready this.

If you know my name but do not live in Nevada, chances are you have seen some of my work on the UFO mystery. In the late 80's, I did the first serious reporting about Area 51 and basically put that mysterious facility on the map. I introduced the world to the claims of Bob Lazar. I became hooked on the UFO topic and have pursued it all over the world. In the 90's, I made two trips to the former USSR and brought back a treasure trove of classified military documents about UFOs. I also was the first UFO researcher to interview late Colonel Phil Corso. And I co-authored the definitive book about the now-infamous Skinwalker Ranch in Utah, have visited two dozen states in pursuit of the animal mutilation mystery, checked out the crop formations in Britain, and produced a series of UFO documentaries called UFOs: The Best Evidence that are considered to be among the best ever produced on the subject.

Herein Nevada, I am known for covering many other--more mainstream topics. For many years, I chronicled the power and decline of organized crime here, tracked down fugitive brothel baron Joe Conforte to his penthouse in Rio De Janiero, traveled to Macau to check out the activities of Las Vegas casino giants, have exposed all manner of official corruption (which is almost like shooting fish in a barrel here), have been a champion on behalf of wild horse herds, and have earned the undying animosity of Nevada power brokers for my stories and columns about the environmental excesses of Nevada developers and their schemes to steal rural groundwater.

I love my job, love coming to work every day, and am eternally grateful to my employer for having the courage to allow me to pursue these kinds of stories, no matter where they lead. I am currently working on a book about former Clark County Sheriff Ralph Lamb, a two-fisted, tough-as-nails lawman whose true life exploits and battles with the mob inspired the CBS TV series "Vegas". I have tried to be serious without taking myself too seriously.

Ask me anything......


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admin note: This is the "real" George Knapp, he has been gracious enough to freely give his time to answer our questions so please do not clutter the thread with requests for proof or statements doubting his authenticity.

Also please note that George is one of the preeminent investigative journalists on television today and is a very, very, busy guy, he will answer as many questions as his schedule will allow for today and will be back tonight after working hours (mountain time U.S.) to answer as many more as he can.

Please limit your questions to one per post.

Please read ALL of the questions to avoid repeating one that has been asked and answered.

We expect civility and respect in return for the generosity George is showing this community, patience is required to.

You can see George's fine work here: www.8newsnow.com...

Finally, ENJOY this golden opportunity.

Recently, scientists documented element 115, which Bob Lazar spoke of. Does this in any way offer to add any credence to the claims of Bob Lazar which most people seem to feel have been debunked?

Welcome to ATS George.

Having spent some time with you (at Rob's house), I was fortunate to hear many of your stories regarding current, and prior, investigations. So, my question, how's the foot? Last time I saw you, you were hobbled by the "boot."

reply to post by GeorgeKnapp

Welcome to ATS and congratulations on the Peabody awards!

Do you have a decisive opinion regarding the authenticity of Bob lazar?

Looking forward to hearing your answers in the AMA.

Welcome to ATS

Have you ever been approached by a government official to discontinue something you were working on or questioning things?

The C2C broadcast last Sunday was extremely informative about the NSA Clipper chip idea and back door programs installed in just about everything. Thank you for bringing current topics to the forefront.. Besides the NSA thing has anything else really given you a Hummmm moment??

Thanks for being here. And yes I feel you
have wiselymanaged to keep a very high deal of credibility,
despite the reputation killing subjects.
So great job navigating life.

Do you still feel Like Bob Lazar was telling the truth?
I do. His story is so solid in my opinion. No hyperbole etc.

And how about Charles Hall?

I used to think the Matilda MacElroy story might have something to it,
but about halfway through the book I had serious doubts as to whether
any of it was true.

Welcome to ATS, Mr. Knapp, and thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.

One of the big names in Ufology, and a man you know well, is John Lear.

Is there anything John Lear says that you would be willing to confirm or at least state that you believe he is being truthful?

Also, do you believe there is a secret underground "train" system that runs under Las Vegas....that leads to secret installations?

Thanks again and I hope my fellow members show the utmost respect throughout this AMA.

Welcome George and it's more of a general question oh my behalf. Are there times when you have to bite your lip and give an answer to a question that isn't the whole facts? By that I mean, are you like so many who have been in the field of Ufology for a long time, party to confidences others have passed on that, by their very nature, you are unable to speak about in public?

There are a couple of rather well known cases from Britain where, down the years I have spoken directly to those involved where, because the people have no wish to go public, I am eternally frustrated in not being able to just say.... "Actually... x said and they were there when it happened, that..... etc

The reason I ask is that, in part, the reason I do believe there's a lot more to UFO phenomenon is that, down the years, I have been quietly told by people I trust that there is, people who simply don't want it known in public for various reasons.

So, in short, are you party to some information, you'd dearly love to share however, due to professional honour and sheer good manners that, you cannot and will not, give public vent to?

reply to post by GeorgeKnapp

Welcome to ATS, we are happy you decided to join us for an "AMA"!

What I would like to ask is did you see, experience or record any evidence or at least credible testimony that led you to the possibility that reported incidences in the Skinwalker Ranch area may involve inter/extra dimensional travel or interaction and if so what are your thoughts on such?

reply to post by mzinga

This isn't the first time 115 has been confirmed so Lazar and I faced the same questions a few years ago. I think the people who want his story to be untrue think it is another nail in the coffin because the 115 created in the lab was not stable, lasted only microseconds, and wan't around long enough to display any of the qualities described by Bob.

As Lazar told me a few days ago, this is but one isotope of 115, not THE isotope. He always contended that the version he saw out at S-4 could never be made in a lab here, that it was a naturally occurring super-heavy element created in the unique environment of a binary star system.

Keep in mind, Lazar did not create the idea of 115---physicists had already predicted such an element and an "island of stability" that might exist somewhere up there in that neck of the elemental woods.

I think it is sort of a psychological test of sorts, like an ink blot. Those who want Lazar to be wrong think it is proof that he is a liar. Those who are still open minded about his claims think it supports his story.

I will tell you this--the lab that did the original work in synthesizing 115 was in touch with Lazar for many months leading up to the first experiment which synthesized the stuff. those guys took him seriously and wanted his input, though I don't know if they would admit it today.

I'm sure there will be other questions about Lazar so I will leave it at that for now. (I am at work right now so will be back to this thread a little later today and will answer as many of your questions as I can.)

reply to post by GeorgeKnapp


Hello Mr. Knapp. We share a last name Thank you for taking the time to give us your perspective.

I would like to know what the most convincing experience, document or piece of evidence you have come across that suggests the existence of otherworldly beings.

Hi George, Welcome to ATS and thank you for the thread.

My question is of all the stories you have covered so far which one haunts you the most?

What's a shirako and does one really blaze out of the desert?

Seriously, I really want to know what one is. Cant seem to Google it since I have no clue how to spell it.

reply to post by GeorgeKnapp



Hi George,

Where do you see ufology 30 years from now?

Welcome to ATS.

reply to post by thisguyrighthere


Do you mean "sirocco"? and it's a wind that emanates from the Sahara desert.

I'm not going to ask a question since we talk all the time, I just want to say THANKS George, your the BEST!

mark...

Hello Mr. Knapp and welcome to ATS

I have one simple question : What is in your opinion the best UFO case to this date ?

FireMoon
reply to post by thisguyrighthere

 

Do you mean "sirocco"? and it's a wind that emanates from the Sahara desert.

Awesome! Cant seem to enjoy Sunday C2C's because I spend the first hour or more obsessing over it.

You've just taken a very annoying load off my shoulders. Thanks!

George,
Long-time lurker here but once I saw you doing this AMA, I had to signup!

Q: Is the public just doomed to never having disclosure? At best, we get good circumstantial evidence, some ufo clips on the tv news with the anchors smirking, statements by pilots/military men, old government reports, witness statements, books, rampant speculation, credible researchers on the lecture circuit who get no major press coverage, etc. In 200 years, will people like me still be asking why there's still no official disclosure?