By Maggie Johnson
December 16, 2024
Image Credit: “FBI, FAA, Air Force Investigating Drone Sightings In Three States,” available at Yahoo Images (12/16/2024).
Mysterious drone sightings along the US East Coast, particularly in New Jersey, have sparked widespread speculation and anxiety. However, a key lawmaker on the House Intelligence Committee has dismissed rumors that these drones are linked to foreign adversaries or extraterrestrial beings.
On Thursday, federal agencies issued a joint statement assuring the public that the drones did not pose a foreign threat or endanger public safety. Yet, they stopped short of explaining the sightings, leaving New Jersey residents puzzled and concerned.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressed the issue on Sunday during an appearance on ABC's This Week. He emphasized that there was no evidence of foreign involvement in the sightings and assured that federal agencies, led by the FBI, were diligently investigating the matter.
“We know of no foreign involvement concerning the sightings in the Northeast,” Mayorkas stated. “We remain vigilant in our investigation.”
Jim Himes, a Democratic congressman from Connecticut and member of the House Intelligence Committee, voiced similar frustrations during an interview on Fox News Sunday. Himes expressed frustration over the federal government's failure to provide clear, timely information, which has allowed misinformation to flourish online.
“There are a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” Himes said. “The answer ‘we don’t know’ is not good enough when people are anxious and nervous. This has been true since the beginning of human history—people will fill a vacuum with their fears and anxieties.”
Mocking some of the more outlandish theories, such as claims of an ‘Iranian mothership hovering off the coast of Asbury Park,’ that are circulating on social media, Himes added, “Let me say something I know with confidence: It is not the Iranians, it is not the Chinese. They aren’t Martians.” He firmly rejected such claims, stating, “These are baseless and unfounded rumors that only serve to stoke fear and anxiety.”
Himes called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the agency responsible for regulating US airspace and ensuring the safety of civil aviation, to take a more proactive role in addressing public concerns. “The FAA ought to be out on Saturday morning, debunking conspiracies and providing clear explanations for this phenomenon,” he said.
While Himes refrained from sharing specific details from classified intelligence briefings, he reiterated his certainty that the drones were not of Iranian or Chinese origin. His comments primarily aligned with the federal government’s stance, though he criticized the Biden administration for its lack of clear leadership on the issue.
The absence of an official explanation has fueled a wave of conspiracy theories online, some of which Himes directly countered. Among these was a baseless claim from Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who tweeted that the drones were unmanned government aircraft. Himes dismissed such allegations, emphasizing the need for facts and accountability.
As the House Intelligence Committee prepares to receive a classified briefing on the sightings later this week, Himes and others are calling for a more coordinated federal response. The briefing will provide more detailed information about the ongoing investigation and the government’s current understanding of the situation. For now, residents of New Jersey and the broader East Coast can rest assured that the mysterious drones are neither a foreign threat nor a Martian invasion—though questions about their origin remain unanswered.
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