What did the declassified documents reveal?

Cold Open. This is a Freedom of Information Act release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, file number one hundred dash two two three seven, dated January nine, nineteen forty, titled “Official F-B-I FOIA declassified Nikola Tesla documents combined.” The packet contains one hundred and sixty pages of unclassified material related to Nikola Tesla’s alleged “teleforce” invention and the handling of his estate after his death. It is notable because it reveals the agency’s internal assessment of Tesla’s claims and the post‑mortem inventory of his laboratory assets. Provenance. The documents were released under FOIA case number one hundred twenty‑three, filed in nineteen forty‑three and released on January twelve, nineteen forty‑three. The declassification authority was the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, J. Edgar Hoover, who approved the release as unclassified. The full text is hosted by The Black Vault at archive dot org, and the canonical PDF can be accessed at the URL https://archive.org/download/2016-fbi-foia-declassified-nikola-tesla-documents-351-pages/2016FBIFOIANikola Tesla-1856-1943 (351 pages)djvu.txt. The Document. Freedom of Information Release – Subject: Nikola Tesla. File number one hundred‑two‑two‑three‑seven. Pages Reviewed – one hundred and sixty. Pages Released – one hundred and sixty. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Department of Justice, four Attn. Mr. J. Edgar Hoover, Washington, D. C. UNCLASSIFIED. Dear Mr. Hoover: The appended article was printed in the New York Times issue of September twenty‑second, nineteen forty, and, based on proven facts, should be of vital importance to our Department as well as to that of other nations now controlled by insane dictators. If, as the author states, the teleforce has been perfected, it would be a measure of farsightedness to insure that the invention is not instantaneously guarded against being molested, possibly kidnapped and tortured by alien enemies for the purpose of seizing the secret of such an invaluable instrument of war or defense. The foregoing is offered just in case the article and its inferences have not been called to your attention. Very truly yours, J. Edgar Hoover. The article describes four inventions: a high vacuum; a method and process for producing “very great electrical force”; a method for amplifying this force; and a new method for producing a tremendous electrical repelling force. This would be the projector, or gun, of the system. The voltage for propelling the beam to its objective, according to the inventor, will attain a potential of fifty million volts. With this enormous voltage, microscopic electrical particles of matter will be catapulted on their mission of defensive destruction. Mr. Tesla makes one important stipulation: should the government decide to take up his offer he would go to work at once, but they would have to trust him. He would suffer “no interference from experts.” The writer argues that two million dollars…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Official FBI FOIA Declassified Nikola Tesla Documents Combined ( 351 Pages)

◆ BLUF — The short version

Cold Open. ” The packet contains one hundred and sixty pages of unclassified material related to Nikola Tesla’s alleged “teleforce” invention and the handling of his estate after his death. It is notable because it reveals the agency’s internal assessment of Tesla’s claims and the post‑mortem inventory of his laboratory assets.

Date: JUL 18 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Episode notes

Cold Open. This is a Freedom of Information Act release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, file number one hundred dash two two three seven, dated January nine, nineteen forty, titled “Official F-B-I FOIA declassified Nikola Tesla documents combined.” The packet contains one hundred and…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Official FBI FOIA Declassified Nikola Tesla Documents Combined ( 351 Pages) about?: Cold Open. ” The packet contains one hundred and sixty pages of unclassified material related to Nikola Tesla’s alleged “teleforce” invention and the handling of his estate after his death. It is notable because it reveals the agency’s internal assessment of Tesla’s claims and the post‑mortem inventory of his laboratory assets.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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Official FBI FOIA Declassified Nikola Tesla Documents Combined ( 351 Pages)

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