When it comes UAPs, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has defense contractors in her sights.
On Friday, Ask a Pol caught up with Mace and Tim Burchett (R-TN) as they were leaving the classified UFO briefing in a SCIF (secure compartmented information facility) at the US Capitol. After we asked which witnesses they wanted to hear testify publicly next, Pentagon or intelligence community officials, Mace was quick to expand our list.
“Private contracts too! I think that the private contractors should be on that witness list. I won't name names, but we have a better sense of who that might be today,” Mace exclusively told Ask a Pol.
Even though UAP Caucus members still have a laundry list of unanswered questions, both Mace and Burchett were impressed with the bipartisan tone members of Congress set for the briefing.
“There were people there that normally weren't there that took interest,” Burchett told Ask a Pol. “And that's specifically due to the fact that their constituents are calling them and saying, ‘what the heck is going on?’ And why are they not, why do they not feel like we as taxpayers have a right to know where our tax dollars are being spent?”
All told, Mace said this latest classified briefing only bolstered UFO whistleblower David Grusch’s credibility.
“This had more utility. A better conversation,” Mace said. “And I would say David Grusch determined to be credible on some of the things that we discussed today.”
LISTEN: Laslo & Mace (& Burchett cameo)
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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SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Tim Burchett (R-TN), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Nancy Mace (& Burchett)
SCENE: After leaving the SCIF Friday, Reps. Nancy Mace and Tim Burchett were walking up the stairs together and Laslo was a few feet in front, giving them space for a private chat.
Matt Laslo: “Look at this motley crew.”
Tim Burchett: “You good?”
ML: “I'm gonna ask you questions, but I don't want to interrupt a meeting of two lawmakers.”
TB: “No, we’re good.”
ML: “What’d you guys think? Getting mixed results.”
TB: “Go ahead Mace, load him up!”
Nancy Mace: “No, no, no, I’ll listen to you babe!”
ML: “No. I want both of you.”
Laslo looks at Mace (knowing Burchett’s always accessible later).
ML: “What’d you think?”
NM: “It's actually one of the more productive meetings that we've had so far. Some of the others have been completely irrelevant and useless. This had more utility. A better conversation. And I would say David Grusch determined to be credible on some of the things that we discussed today.”
ML: “So even if people in the intelligence community or leadership here want it to go away, it's not going away?”
NM: “It's not going away. And in fact, there's a lot more work to be done on this going forward, and I think…”
TB: “There were people there that normally weren't there that took interest. And that's specifically due to the fact that their constituents are calling them and saying, ‘what the heck is going on?’ And why are they not, why do they not feel like we as taxpayers have a right to know where our tax dollars are being spent?”
NM: “Again, it's not just about little green men. I mean, this is about…
TB: “It’s about transparency.”
NM: “…government process, transparency, budgeting, hiding information from the public or hiding information from Congress. This is much bigger than little green men. So let's set the stage for that.”
Mace turns to Burchett as they both head towards the House floor to vote.
NM: “Are you voting? Gonna go vote?”
TB: “I’m gonna go vote.”
ML: “Do you think with that bipartisan or nonpartisan coalition there…”
NM: “It was a very bipartisan meeting — a very bipartisan meeting.”
ML: “Do you think that itself sends a message to them?”
NM: “Yeah, I think so. But it was bipartisan, and it was productive. It was one of the better classified meetings, briefings we’ve had so far this year.”
ML: “If you have another public hearing, who would you want to speak to?”
NM: “I'd have to think about it. There are a lot of folks we need to talk to.”
ML: “Pentagon? Or intelligence community?”
NM: “Both. I mean, you can’t do this without talking to intel or DOD. That’s where the buck stops.”
ML: “Well, because it kinda feels like those two aren’t talking…?”
NM: “Private contracts too! I think that the private contractors should be on that witness list. I won't name names, but we have a better sense of who that might be today.”
ML: “We’ll talk privately and you can name names…”
Mace laughs.
Laslo then turns to Burchett. That transcript is coming separately. Stay tuned!
EXCLUSIVE — Nancy Mace says on contractors post-SCIF: "I won't name names, but we have a better sense of who that might be today" (+ Burchett cameo)