Drones latest: Biden insists flying objects pose ‘no danger’ as FBI issues urgent firearm and laser warning
The bureau has warned New Jersey residents to avoid shooting down or shining lasers at suspect unmanned aircraft systems after complaints from pilots
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Your support makes all the difference.President Joe Biden insisted that there is “no sense of danger” surrounding the mysterious spate of drone sightings across the US.
“Nothing nefarious apparently, but they’re checking it all out,” he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday amid growing public demands for an explanation. “We’re following this closely, but so far no sense of danger.”
The FBI also issued a warning to New Jersey residents, urging them not to shoot down or shine lasers at suspected drones flying overhead. The bureau, along with state police, noted an increase of pilots being hit in the eyes with lasers, after those on the ground have mistaken planes for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS’s).
“There is also a concern with people possibly firing weapons at what they believe to be a UAS,” the agency added in a statement.
Members of Congress were briefed on the potential origins of the drones in a classified House Intelligence Committee meeting on Tuesday by Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder.
Officials continue to brush off claims that the UAS’s are linked with anything more clandestine, with Ryder telling reporters: “Completely understand the concerns, completely will reinforce we’re taking it seriously.”
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Illinois Democratic Rep. Krishnamoorthi says technology of drones has outpaced the law
House Intelligence Committee member says he wasn’t told anything that isn’t public knowledge
Following a classified briefing, House Intelligence Committee member and California Representative Jimmy Gomez reportedly said that the public needs to have faith that the government and its agencies are on top of the current drone situation.
When asked if he was told anything that isn’t public knowledge, he said: “Off the top of my head, no.”
Pentagon does not see a ‘connection at this point’ between NJ and Air Force base drone activity
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder told reporters on Tuesday that authorities did not see a “connection” at this point between drone activity in New Jersey and those spotted at Air Force bases.
Pentagon says authorities have to assess any drones approaching military bases on a ‘case by case basis'
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder discussed the East Coast drones in a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon.
“Similar to vehicles that may inadvertently approach a base, the same came be true for drones. As to what constitutes a threat, that obviously has to be assessed on a case by case basis, depending on what the drone is doing [and] where it’s going,” he told reporters, speaking about drones that approach military installations.
In the US, the authority the military has to detect and track “these kinds of things” is much different than in a combat zone outside the country, noted Ryder.
“For very good reasons, We don’t collect intelligence on American citizens,” he added.
Ryder also responded to concern from the general public.
“I think that in the way that you now have this modern technology and the ability, you could go out of here right after this briefing and go and buy a drone and you could fly it around your neighborhood,” he said.
“And, as long as you’re flying it appropriately and not in restricted airspace, there’s nothing illegal about flying that drone.”
Pentagon says drones are not Department of Defense assets
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder stated Tuesday that none of the drones recently sighted around the eastern US are Department of Defense assets.
“Yes, they are not DOD assets,” he said.
To his knowledge, Ryder said there are no experimental programs underway that are testing drones.
“There’s over a million drones registered in the United States and, on any given day, approximately 8,500 drones are in flight,” he added.
Ryder said it was “entirely possible” some of the drones could be up to maligned activity.
“But the vast majority: that is not the case,” he said.
Drones flying over military installations are not new, Ryder noted.
Pentagon says it will continue to take drone situation ‘very seriously’
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder reacted Tuesday to concerns regarding the recent drone sightings across the eastern US.
“Completely understand the concerns, completely will reinforce we’re taking it seriously,” he told reporters at an afternoon news briefing.
Ryder said that there is the potential that Americans are just more aware of the drones.
“Again, we’ll continue to take this very seriously,” he said.
Ryder repeated that no drone sightings were assessed as anomalous or were assessed as a public safety or national security risk.
The classified House Intelligence Committee briefing on drones is underway
The Pentagon is holding a separate and simultaneous briefing right now.
Trump-backed Republican says post about drones with Star Wars meme was on purpose
Pennsylvania Republican Doug Mastriano has been facing some heat after posting a picture of what appears to be a Star Wars prop instead of one of the mysterious drones that are flying around the East Coast this month.
Now, he says sharing the meme was on purpose.
“I posted a statement about the drones and used an obvious Star Wars prop as a meme,” he said. “The Philadelphia Inquirer just called asking if I knew it was a prop. Hilarious. Modern day ‘journalism.’”
The newspaper reported that statement and that Mastriano said the “extreme left” needed a sense of humor.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace has theories about the recent drone sightings: Outer space ‘has to be on the table'
South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace said Monday that the public should not rule out “outer space” as a possible origin of drones flying around the East Coast.
“My concern is, if it’s not craft from outer space — because I think that has to be on the table,” the congresswoman told Outkick. “That has to be an option — is it our technology? Or is it Russia or Iran or China? Is there someone who’s winning the arms race, and are we behind?”
“Because my question is about national security, and I hope that it’s us,” she continued. “I hope that it’s not our adversaries or something from outside the universe, because I have real concerns that, like, if these drones are from Iran or China, like some of the rumors have been, I pray that they’re ours, but we should also know why they’re out there. Like, are they looking for radiation? Are they looking for a missing nuclear warhead?”
Florida senator swipes at Biden administration after agencies address mystery flights
Florida Senator Rick Scott took a shot at the Biden administration on Tuesday after the FBI, FAA, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security said recent drone sightings were lawful and did not “present a national security or public safety risk” along the East Coast.
“The American people don’t trust the federal government because the Biden admin has lied again and again about Communist China,” Scott alleged.
“They lied about the Chinese spy balloons. Who’s to say they are telling the truth about these drones?!”
A former senior US official said that before the balloon was seen publicly, there was “the intention to study it and let it pass over and not ever tell anyone about it,” according to an NBC News report.
It is unclear if that is what Scott, who has criticized the president’s relationship with China, was referring to.
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