Grothman’s been quiet about the ongoing UAP investigation in the US House of Representatives ever since last summer when at the last minute it was announced that he would chair UFO whistleblower David Grusch’s July 27, 2023 hearing.
While some members of the Congressional UAP Caucus left today’s classified briefing calling for another public UFO hearing, Grothman says the IG didn’t do his homework.
Chair Grothman exclusively tells Ask a Pol he’s predicting another classified briefing will come first.
“I have a feeling the next one we have will be private again, but we’re not done,” Grothman says. “Well, there’s stuff he didn’t have … It’s very frustrating.”
Grothman chairs the Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs, and he says the full committee chair, Rep. Kames Comer (R-KY) hasn’t weighed in one way or another on the investigation.
“I think they’ll go anywhere I want to go,” Grothman says. “Comer hasn’t really been looking over my shoulder on this at all.”
LISTEN: Laslo & Grothman
Matt Laslo’s a veteran congressional correspondent, new media prof. & founder of Ask a Pol — a new, people-powered press corps, asking your questions at the Capitol. @Ask_a_Pol (or @askpols).
Ask a Pol is a new, people-powered press corps, asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. Follow us on the socials @Ask_a_Pol (or @askpols on Insta).
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Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Glenn Grothman
SCENE: Grothman blows past the 10 or reporters huddled outside the SCIF, as he’s worried he’s late for a vote on the House floor. Laslo proceeds to interview him while also leading him to the floor through the Capitol’s underground tunnels.
Glenn Grothman: “I am late to vote, so I am sorry.”
Matt Laslo: “Happy New Year, sir. How’d it go?”
Reporter yells from afar as Grothman and I take a winding staircase up to the House floor.
Reporter: “Is it still going?”
GG: “What?”
Reporter: “Is it still going?”
GG: “No. It’s done.”
Reporter: “It’s done?”
ML: “How many members are still in there?”
GG: “I think, just one.”
Laslo yells his answer down to his press corps colleagues.
ML: “He says just one.”
ML: “How’d it go? Some people are saying it was productive?”
GG: “Now you can tell me how to exit? Cause I don’t know how to get there. How do I get there?”
ML: “I’ll lead you to the floor.. It’s right this way, sir. Do you feel like that was productive?”
GG: “It's always productive, but we didn't have a silver bullet one way or the other. So I'm sure we'll do something else.”
ML: “Are you open to chairing another public hearing or….?”
GG: “Well, I have a feeling the next one we have will be private again, but we’re not done.”
ML: “Why? Because there's a lot of follow up questions on the classified information?”
GG: “Well, there’s stuff he didn’t have. [inaudible] these people.”
ML: “Really?”
GG: “Really nice guy. He was very helpful.”
ML: “Yeah. Like, that’s wild because…”
GG: “It’s very frustrating.”
ML: “Does that unite you all in this nonpartisan fashion to really pressure than together?”
GG: “I'm sure…is this the right way?”
Grothman’s waiting for the wrong elevator as one opens in back of him.”
ML: “Yeah …This side, sir. In back of you.”
GG: “Now going forward, we’ll meet with staff and decide who we’re gonna bring in next. Different people have different suggestions, and I'll talk it over with them too.”
ML: “Do you talk more to [Oversight] Chair Comer or Speaker Johnson and his office about steps forward.”
GG: “Oh, I think they’ll go anywhere I want to go.”
Elevator opens on first floor and he starts to exit, so Laslo alerts him it’s wrong floor.
ML: “One more.” Don't go along with y'all.
GG: “Comer hasn’t really been looking over my shoulder on this at all.”
ML: “So you guys have the leeway, but now this gives you the case to keep pushing forward?”
GG: “Right, right, right.”
ML: “Yup.”
GG: “Okay.”
ML: “Have a good one!”
GG: “Gotta vote.”
EXCLUSIVE — Chair Grothman post IG briefing in SCIF: "There’s stuff he didn’t have … It’s very frustrating"