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LISTEN: Laslo & Courtney
Who?
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) — third most senior Democrat on House Armed Services Committee (HASC)
Ask a Pol asks
Has the issue of UAPs ever come up in HASC?
Key Courtney
“I mean, it comes up in a general committee during markup — on the NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act] — but that’s as close as I really, you know, get,” Courtney told Ask a Pol at the US Capitol.
Follow-up
We’re curious whether it’s HASC Chair Mike Rogers (R-AL) or House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) Chair Mike Turner (R-OH) who took umbrage with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s UAP amendment to the NDAA last year?
Caught our ear
“I think it’s both. ‘Cause, I mean, as you know, Navy and Air Force, you know, their pilots are sort of involved. And Intel. because of — its national whatever…”
UAPDA sponsors still in dark
ICYMI
Turner mum but Chair Rogers up on Schumer’s UAP amendment during NDAA negotiations
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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.
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Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Joe Courtney
Matt Laslo: “Do you — has it ever come up, the UAP issue or UFOs?”
Joe Courtney: “I mean, it comes up in a general committee during markup — on the NDAA — but that’s as close as I really, you know, get.”
ML: “’Cause that’s where we’re curious whether it’s [HASC] Chair Rogers or [HPSCI] Chair Turner who took umbrage with Sen. Schumer’s UAP amendment?”
JC: “I think it’s both. ‘Cause, I mean, as you know, Navy and Air Force, you know, their pilots are sort of involved. And Intel. because of — its national whatever…”
ML: “But [Rep. Jim] Himes [the top Democrat on House Intel.] says he’s never talked to Turner about it, which might just mean he doesn’t care about the issue…”
JC: “Right.”
ML: “But it’s never been a robust discussion on HASC?”
JC: “Not, not in public.”
ML: “In private?”
JC: “Yeah.”
Courtney laughs as he shakes his head no.
ML: “Have a good one!”
Did Intel Chair Turner or HASC Chair Rogers gut Schumer's UAPDA? “I think it’s both," Rep. Courtney says