Who?
Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO)
Ask a Pol asks:
What do you make of House Intel Chair Mike Turner’s warning?
Key Burlison:
“Well, I went to the SCIF and got a briefing on it. I’m concerned, but the only thing I can say is the level of my concern — is what I was told — so I will put it this way: I left, when I was in there and signing the what would happen to you if you [disclosed], you know, the punishment, the penalties… signing that, I came to the conclusion, I'm more afraid of this than I am of what I read about.”
Caught our ear:
“We did have Lue Elizondo today… He was in town for the Conservative Opportunity Society breakfast with [Rep.] Ralph Norman (R-SC)…It was really good,” Burlison exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “Those guys, from what they presented — of course, this is not in a secure setting, they're not under oath — but what they presented is very similar to what David Grusch was presenting.”
BONUS INTRIGUE:
“I'm working on it. Right now, I've got something up my sleeve. I don't want to talk. I’ll keep you informed, because I got a big thing that I'm gonna announce.”
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LISTEN: Laslo & Burlison
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. @Ask_a_Pol or @askpols
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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. Eric Burlison
SCENE: Laslo sees Burlison walking in a basement tunnel from his office to the US Capitol. Burlison has an earbud in, so Laslo quietly inquires whether he’s on a call and learns Burlison is studying up on his Japanese.
Matt Laslo: “You’re learning Japanese?”
Eric Burlison: “Yeah. Well, I'm refreshing myself.”
ML: “Sweet. Did you see that Turner tweet?”
EB: “No.”
Laslo pulls his phone out to read the tweet to Burlison, hence the temporary interference between his phone and recorder. Sorry!
ML: “What do you make of that?”
EB: “Well, I went to the SCIF and got a briefing on it. I’m concerned, but the only thing I can say is the level of my concern — is what I was told — so I will put it this way: I left, when I was in there and signing the what would happen to you if you [disclosed], you know, the punishment, the penalties….”
ML: “Signing your life away.”
EB: “Signing that, I came to the conclusion, I'm more afraid of this than I am of what I read about.”
ML: “Well put. Interesting. Well some people — there's rumors it deals with the Russian space program?”
EB: “I can't. I can't.”
ML: “Nothing? Yeah. I feel ya. It's an interesting one. Do you think it should be declassified like Turner asked?”
EB: “Yeah. I don't think that the American people, based on what I read, I really don’t think the American people shouldn’t have access, but I'm generally a lot more believing. My attitude in general is that we're supposed to believe in them. Give people more authority. Let them make adult decisions. I wish I could tell you more.”
ML: “I know. Wish I could be a fly on the wall.”
EB: “We did have Lue Elizondo today.”
ML: “Where?”
EB: “In town.”
ML: “Oh yeah?”
EB: “You know who he is right?”
ML: “Yeah.”
EB: “He was in town for the Conservative Opportunity Society breakfast with Ralph Norman. So you might talk with Ralph Norman about it. It was really good.”
ML: “Any takeaways?”
EB: “Those guys, from what they presented — of course, this is not in a secure setting, they're not under oath — but what they presented is very similar to what David Grusch was presenting.”
ML: “Yeah? Why not hear from more of those folks?”
EB: “I'm working on it. Right now, I've got something up my sleeve. I don't want to talk. I’ll keep you informed, because I got a big thing that I'm gonna announce.”
ML: “Nice. UAP related?”
EB: “Yes.”
ML: “I’ll be watchin! Preciate ya. Have a good recess if I don’t see ya.”
Post-SCIF Burlison says Intel Chair overreacting but agrees on declassification