BEFORE THURSDAY’S SCIF BRIEFING WAS POSTPONED (more news on that below), we spoke to Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) about what he was hoping to get out of it, and he reports his staff was alerted by House Oversight Committee personnel that the intelligence community never intended to let lawmakers read UFO whistleblower David Grusch’s firsthand account in the SCIF.
“I suspect—and I'm worried—that all we're getting is them explaining what was in the report, which is bullshit if that's what it's gonna be, and I'm not going to be happy with that. I want to see the actual report,” Burlison exclusively tells Ask a Pol.
Burlison says he was braced for disappointment, if pushing the inspector general’s office for disclosure.
“On Monday when I came in, I was told this, that we're going to get a review of it, and so I told my staff to work through the Oversight staff to make it clear that anything less than seeing the document is not going to be acceptable,” Burlison tells us.
At the end of our short conversation—which was conducted during a vote on the House floor—we discuss the role of the Oversight Committee in the investigation.
Besides confirming that Oversight—not the Intelligence Committee—is still playing point (or blocker…) on the House UAP investigation, we also inquire about the “smurf” incident between Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) and UAP Caucus member Rep. Jared Moskowitx (D-FL) on Tuesday.
RANDOM TIDBIT (we just accidentally learned): Both Burlison and Moskowitz are the least senior members of the Oversight Committee for their respective parties. Seniority is everything at the Capitol…
With tomorrow’s briefing now postponed for three weeks, UAP Caucus members are promising to keep the pressure up on the IG.
Two House caucus members confirmed to Ask a Pol the second classified Grusch briefing is now slated for Thursday, December 7th, which means what Burlison told us still holds.
Since Thursday’s SCIF briefing was postponed, Rep. Burlison told us it’s “sad” the classified session had to be moved until after Thanksgiving. That sentiment is shared by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN).
“I’m bummed,” Burchett tells Ask a Pol.
Matt Laslo’s a veteran congressional correspondent, new media prof. & founder of Ask a Pol — a new, people-powered press corps, asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. @Ask_a_Pol (or @askpols).
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Eric Burlison, slightly edited for clarity.
Matt Laslo: “How you doing?”
Eric Burlison: “Sorry, bout that.”
I had waited for a few minutes as Burlison was wrapping up a phone call before heading to the House floor to vote.
ML: “Oh, you're all good!”
EB: “How you?”
ML: “Still standing.”
EB: “Did you get some clicks from that story?”
ML: “Oh, yeah. Yeah, so many people were curious. And I'm curious—you probably don't have an answer yet because Burchett didn’t yesterday (Tuesday)—do you know what tomorrow is gonna look like? Or you'll find out in the SCIF?”
EB: “I suspect—and I'm worried—that all we're getting is them explaining what was in the report, which is bullshit, if that's what it's gonna be, and I'm not going to be happy with that. I want to see the actual report. And then I want to—once we get the information in the report then it's going to give me the ability to ask the right questions and go forward asking the right questions.”
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