White House offers bizarre new theory for mystery drone sightings over New Jersey
The White House provided an odd response to a string of reported drone sightings over New Jersey and a lawmakers claim they could be from a Middle East adversary – saying theyre not foreign, and theyre not even drones.
The White House provided an odd response to a string of reported drone sightings over New Jersey and a lawmakers claim they could be from a Middle East adversary – saying theyre not foreign, and theyre not even drones.
We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby told reporters Thursday.
Kirby addressed the matter after New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew said the repeat activity could be from an Iranian mothership offshore, as federal and local agencies have fielded reports of drone sightings.
The White House shot down the idea of foreign direction and sought to assuage anxiety, even while failing to offer a full explanation of what was going on. Instead, Kirby said there was no malicious activity and that there were no confirmed sightings inside restricted airspace.
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating these sightings, and theyre working closely with the state and local law enforcement to provide resources using numerous detection methods to better understand their origin, Kirby said.
He said the agencies used very sophisticated electronic detection technologies but have not been able to – and neither state or local law enforcement – corroborate any of the reported visual sightings.
To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft being operated lawfully, he said, denying the aircraft were even drones.
He said the Coast Guard is providing support and confirmed that there is no evidence of any foreign based involvement from coastal vessels. And importantly, there are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted airspace, he said – amid concerns about a nearby military base.
He said the administration takes seriously the threat that can be posed by unmanned aircraft systems, which is why law enforcement and other agencies continue to support New Jersey and investigate the reports, even though they have uncovered no malicious activity or intent at this particular stage.
National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby addressed reports of drone sightings over New Jersey. He said there was no evidence of a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus
With the drone story taking off online and filling time on cable news, Kirby also appeared to raise doubts about the footage being circulated.
Im not aware that we have U.S. Government-produced imagery ourselves, he said, adding that the government had done thorough analysis of the existing imagery.
He made one legislative pitch, seeking authority from Congress to extend and expand existing counter drone authorities – although there is no predicting how long it could take to pass such a law.
Pressed by a Fox News reporter on how he could guarantee there was no security threat, with objects as large as bicycles or cars reported over populated areas, Kirby responded that the analysis thus far in an investigation that is ongoing has not revealed any national security or criminal activity. Then he offered a remidner that were at the beginning here, not the end.
Democratic senators from New York and New Jersey have written the administration seeking answers, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy posted that he spoke to Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall to discuss my concerns over the federal government’s response.
The sightings date to mid November, and include FAA reports of sightings near Morris County. Witnesses have spotted the cluster of what look to be drones and a possible fixed wing aircraft, the FBI field office in Newark said December 3rd.
They have even sparked calls for a state of emergency and that they be shot down. There are even theories they are of Russian origin.
The Coast Guard has reported multiple low-altitude aircraft being observed near one of its vessels near Island Beach State Park.
They have also been sighted near President-elect Donald Trumps Bedminster, New Jersey golf course, and near the Picatinny Arsenal research facility.
The Picatinny Arsenal PD confirmed 11 reports of what was called drone activity during evenings over a period of days between November 13 and December 6.
And a New Jersey congressman is standing by his bombshell claim that mysterious drones sighted over his state are coming from an Iranian mothership off the east coast.
Jeff Van Drew, A New Jersey Republican, repeated his assertion less than one day after the Pentagon said it is not true.
He accused the Pentagon of being incredibly stupid and incredibly weak when it comes to addressing the drones.
I had credible individuals who have high security ratings, and they came to me and again, these are dependable, credible individuals that have security clearance that felt they wanted to clear the air, Van Drew told Fox News on Thursday.
They were in essence whistleblowers and said look, they believe theres a real possibility it could be Iran, the lawmaker insisted.
There could be a ship out. Not right on the coast of New Jersey, not right there, but these drones as sighted by the coast guard are coming in and out of the ocean, he continued.
It came one day after Van Drew make the jaw-dropping claim point blank that his sources said Iran had launched a mothership about a month ago where the drones are based, and its now stationed off the coast.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew doubled down that the mysterious drones sighted over New Jersey could be coming from Iran, one day after the Pentagon rejected his original claim that sources said theres an Iranian mothership off the U.S. coast
Van Drew argued Thursday the U.S. is not being told the truth and the American public are being treated as stupid.
His accusations came in response to the Pentagon, which shot down his initial claim almost immediately Wednesday afternoon.
Theres no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and theres no so-called "mothership" launching drones toward the United States, said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.
She reiterated the Pentagon does not believe the drones are coming from a foreign adversary but also stated they are not U.S. military drones.
Swarms of drones have been spotted in the skies of New Jersey for weeks, sparking officials to call for a limited state of emergency
The government claims its not them. They say its not them, so who is it? Van Drew asked Thursday.
The GOP lawmaker claimed the drones are not the backyard drones of a hobbyist and more sophisticated than those commercially available.
He said the U.S. needs some real answers, but when asked to respond directly to the Pentagon rejecting his Iran claim, Van Drew expanded his accusations.
These drones very well could be launched from a ship, he insisted. It could be hundreds of miles out at sea. These types of drones go much greater distances.
So there is a real possibility. Could it be China? Absolutely. Could it be something else? It sure could, he said.
Van Drew said they dont know what it is, what its about. They havent taken one down to analyze it.
He said even if officials give more information, its a month too late.
The sightings started mid-November with footage capturing car-sized drones with flashing lights
According to one NJ local, this image depicts roughly nine of the unidentified drones flying in to the Garden State from the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday night, December 5
But the Pentagon was not the only one to dismiss the lawmakers mothership claims.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also slammed Van Drews original comments about the drones coming from Iran as a wild assertation.
He noted the FBI said there was zero evidence to support Van Drews original claim.
Im not sure what hes been watching lately, but he might want to watch the news, Murphy responded in a radio interview with WNYC.
He has been in contact with the White House over the situation. The governor said he understands people are frustrated and called it a top priority.
The FBI and local and state officials have been investigating the mysterious drone sightings that witnesses have spotted on numerous occasions.
Residents have noted the unexplained cluster of drones and a possible fixed wing aircraft for several weeks which have sparked concerns as they have been seen flying over sensitive locations, such as military instillations.
A top FBI official told House lawmakers on Tuesday that they still do not know where the drones are coming from or who is responsible for them.
But he did note some of the drones are believed to be bigger than those commercially available.
