The general public and, especially, the press corps aren’t allowed in sensitive compartmented information facilities, but Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) wishes we all could have seen the bipartisan congressional consensus inside the SCIF Friday.
“You should see that room. It's wild how nonpartisan this really is,” Moskowitz exclusively told Ask a Pol after the briefing. “This is about Congress versus the executive and government oversight and secrecy and transparency. This was the most fascinating meeting I've sat in.”
Moskowitz told a gaggle of reporters outside the SCIF the briefing “actually moved the needle,” which he later expounded on in our exclusive interview as he made his way to vote on the House floor.
“This was more directional, right? On where we need to focus and what the next steps are. Where we need to ask for information. Places actually to maybe go,” Moskowitz said.
Lawmakers are now demanding more information and cooperation from Department of Defense officials, especially those in All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office or AARO, Moskowitz says.
Matt Laslo’s a veteran congressional correspondent, new media prof. & founder of Ask a Pol — a new, people-powered press corps.
Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. Follow us: @Ask_a_Pol (or @askpols on Insta).
LISTEN: Laslo & Rep. Jared Moskowitz
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Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Jared Moskowitz
Moskowitz wraps up a short gaggle with press huddled outside of SCIF, and then Laslo interviews him one-on-one as he makes his way to the House floor to vote.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz: “Alright. Thank you.”
CNN producer: “Thank you!”
Matt Laslo: “So when there’s public hearings, who’d you want to hear from?”
JM: “You’d have to ask the majority. But based on that meeting…”
ML: “But this is the most non-partisan thing in Congress.”
JM: “By the way, you should see that room. It's wild of how nonpartisan this really is, because this is about Congress versus the executive and government oversight and secrecy and transparency. This was the most fascinating meeting I've sat in.”
ML: “Huh.”
JM: “Okay, now that doesn't mean, we got the ultimate answer to the ultimate question. We didn't. Okay, obviously. But this was more directional, right? On where we need to focus and what the next steps are. Where we need to ask for information. Places actually to maybe go.”
ML: “Interesting. And that's what you guys have been waiting for. Do you, in that public hearing, would you like to hear from the IGs publicly? Or people in DOD?”
JM: “All all of the above?”
ML: “Yeah?”
JM: “Yeah. But no, we need more from DOD. We need more from AARO.”
ML: “Who led this hearing?”
JM: “What do you mean? It’s Oversight.”
ML: “But is this Pentagon IG or…?”
JM: “No, this is the intelligence community.”
ML: “Yep? Interesting. I'll be watching, sir.”
JM: “Thanks.”
ML: “Preciate ya.”
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