Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Sunday went after federal officials over their response to mysterious nighttime drone sightings that have sparked concerns among those in the Garden State and elsewhere on the East Coast.
“Let me tell you something. I agree that they need more authority. But … to say this is not unusual activity, it’s just wrong,” said Christie, who noted that he and his wife saw drones over their New Jersey home in an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week.”
His remarks arrived moments after George Stephanopoulos spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the sightings that have prompted investigations by state and local officials as well as the FBI.
Mayorkas told Stephanopoulos that “thousands of drones” are flown daily in the U.S. and people may be seeing more drones now due to the Federal Aviation Administration tweaking its rules to allow the aircraft to fly at night in 2023.
He emphasized that the federal government isn’t aware of any reason for concern or hasn’t identified foreign involvement and criminal activity.
Stephanopoulos later asked Christie whether concerns around the drones is a “mass hysteria of some sort.”
“Well, here’s why George, because of answers like the secretary just gave. They’re not answering the questions,” Christie replied.
Stephanopoulos noted that Mayorkas told him the federal government is “monitoring” the situation, hasn’t seen “unusual activity” and needs more authority.
Christie cited residents who have voiced concerns to him over why President Joe Biden and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) won’t tell them “anything.”
He warned that if officials don’t “fill that vacuum” with answers, conspiracy theories — like Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s (R-N.J.) claim that the drones stem from an Iranian “mothership” off the New Jersey coast — will fill in the space.
“The Biden administration and state authorities have to be more vocal and let people know exactly what they’re doing,” he said.
″[Mayorkas’] interview this morning was a bit of a better step but I think much too little, too late. And when people see this kind of activity, it’s a new-ish technology to most people and they’re worried about it and concerned.”
Top state officials on the East Coast like New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and Murphy have demanded federal assistance in response to the sightings.
On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump called on officials to explain the sightings or to shoot the drones out of the sky.
Christie, after Stephanopoulos asked how he’d respond if he was the governor, said he’d want New Jersey State Police to have the authority to bring the drones down and find out “why they’re doing what they’re doing.”
He warned of residents potentially taking matters into their own hands and acting as “drone vigilantes.”
Democracy In The Balance
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“And they’re going to start taking them down. That’s not what we want,” said the former governor, who noted that some drones are an important part of commerce and law enforcement for surveillance.