Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is demanding answers related to the drones spotted in the skies of New Jersey and around the country.
“I don’t know what’s going on. Neither do the agencies who have responsibility for and that’s why I’ve demanded answers from them, at the very least, to tell us what they are doing to determine what’s going on,” Blumenthal told CNN’s Erin Burnett Friday.
Blumenthal’s concern comes as there have been mounting reports of sightings in New Jersey, New York and, according to Philadelphia’s WPVI-TV, multiple reports of flying objects within Delaware and Philadelphia counties.
Earlier on Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas suggested that the mysterious drones reportedly spotted in the skies of New Jersey and around the country are not “nefarious” nor a “threat.”
“We know of no threat or nefarious activity, and I want to repeat, Wolf, that if we learn of any cause for concern, we will be transparent in our communication,” Mayorkas told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Friday.
But Blumenthal signaled that he wants more than just reassurance from officials.
“I want the evidence. I want the facts. I want the systemic results that they have. Make it public,” Blumenthal said.
He added that his constituents are also concerned about the reported sightings.
“People are texting me. Constituents are alarmed, and I am alarmed as well as much by the lack of disclosure and transparency as the suspicion about what may be going on,” Blumenthal said.
The Pentagon on Wednesday denied that any foreign country was behind the mysterious drones that have flown near sensitive U.S. military sites in New Jersey.
Other lawmakers in the region of the country have expressed concern, as well, and sent a letter Thursday to the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Federal Aviation Administration demanding a briefing on the drones.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrats from New York, along with New Jersey Sens. Cory Booker (D) and Andy Kim (D) asked agencies how they are working “to identify and address the source of recent unmanned aerial system activity.”
