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Who?
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) — Intelligence and Armed Services Committees
LISTEN: Laslo & Gillibrand
Ask a Pol asks:
Did you see that Joint Chiefs of Staff letter last May — the one on UAPs that, kind of, is alerting?
Key Gillibrand:
“I don’t remember what it said. I imagine I saw it, but I think what they’re most worried about is safety for pilots and domain awareness around bases and around nuclear sites,” Gillibrand exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “It’s essential that we have full domain awareness in our most specialized, most top-secret locations. We don’t want spying by adversaries. And so, we hadn’t developed the technology or the ability to detect all these items, and there’s been a couple of drone [incursions] that are concerning.”
Caught our ear:
“Oh interesting, ‘attacks’?” Ask a Pol inquires after hearing Gillibrand misspeak.
“What?”
“Attacks? Or surveillance?”
“That’s not the right word,” Gillibrand says. “You’re right, drone ‘attack’ isn’t the right word, but drone…”
“Incursions?”
“Incursions,” Gillibrand tells Ask a Pol. “That are disturbing and need to be known and seen and be able to be taken down.”
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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.
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
SCENE: Gillibrand, two aides and Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo exit an elevator on the first floor of the US Capitol.
Matt Laslo: “I wanted to ask you, did you see that Joint Chiefs of Staff letter last May? The one about — or on UAPs but kind of just alerting…?”
Kirsten Gillibrand: “I don’t remember what it said. I imagine I saw it, but I think what they’re most worried about is safety for pilots and domain awareness around bases and around nuclear sites. It’s essential that we have full domain awareness in our most specialized, most top-secret locations. We don’t want spying by adversaries. and so, we hadn’t developed the technology or the ability to detect all these items, and there’s been a couple of drone attacks* that are concerning.”
*Gillibrand misspoke.
ML: “Yeah?”
KG: “So…”
ML: “Oh interesting, ‘attacks’?”
KG: “What?”
ML: “Attacks? Or surveillance?”
KG: “That’s not the right word.”
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One of Gillibrand’s aides went ahead to the Senate Dining Room — which is Senators Only — and keeps sticking his head out every lil bit to speed her and her other aide up.
Gillibrand aide: “Senator, you really have to get going.”
KG to aide: “I know. Oh my gosh.”
Gillibrand turns back to Ask a Pol.
KG: “You’re right, drone ‘attack’ isn’t the right word, but drone…”
ML: “Incursions?”
KG: “Incursions. That are disturbing and need to be known and seen and be able to be taken down. So we had that — we had some hearings on that already.”
ML: “Interesting. ‘Preciate ya.”
Laslo looks to Gillibrand’s annoyed senior aide.
ML: “Sorry!”
Gillibrand joins aide in Senator’s Dining Room.
Gillibrand: US lacks “ability to detect all these" craft around US bases and nuclear sites