Gillibrand, Kirsten

Matt Laslo: “Any update on the UAP stuff?”

Kristen Gillibrand: “So, we’re trying to schedule a meeting with the whistleblower, so we can ask him questions directly. And then we are also going to try to schedule meetings with the people he mentions in his whistleblowing complaint.”

ML: “And that will be classified or private?”

KG: “We’ll try to do part of it—we’ll do whatever the whistleblower wants. If the whistleblower wants it classified, we’ll do it classified. If he’s willing to do it open, we’ll do it open. And I don’t know—I’ll have to assess if there’s classified information that he’s giving us. So, we’ll create the right setting regardless, and then hopefully, he’ll come in.”

ML: “Is this really layered trying to get to the bottom of it?”

KG: “Yes, it’s extremely layered, because the allegations are very serious.”

Sen. Gillibrand takes part in a classified UAP hearing.

Matt Laslo: “Still standing. Did you meet with the interim head of AARO yesterday [CORRECTION: Tuesday]?”

KG: “No. Who is it? Do you know who it is?”

ML: “No. They named somebody. You had something classified in your thing [ie, public schedule] yesterday.”

KG: “Oh, no.”

ML: “That was separate?”

KG: “Yeah. It was separate, but I’ve asked them who it is and they didn’t know.”

ML: “Really?”

KG: “Yeah.”

ML: “Because they named someone initially.”

KG: “The staff didn't know who it was.”

ML: “So what do you make of that?”

KG: “Slow.”

ML: “Yeah?”

KG: “They’re just slow.”

ML: “Case of the bureaucracy?”

KG: “Ahuh.”

ML: “That’s pretty wild.”

ML: “Is that frustrating though?”

KG: “It is, because I want to meet the new person. I want the new person to be named. And if there's an interim person, fine, but we should really have someone in line.”

ML: “There's no Senate confirmation for that is there?”

KG: “No. It's a DOD [Department of Defense] choice — DOD-Intel.”

ML: “Interesting. Are you still in talks with [David] Grusch?”

KG: “It’s Grusch’s lawyer who seems to be making the decision, so I would talk to his lawyer. So I think maybe with the next person [at AARO] they might meet. I don't know. He wouldn't meet with Kirkpatrick unfortunately.”

ML: “Because the House, they just had their second SCIF briefing on him specifically.”

KG: “On Grusch?”

ML: “Yeah.”

KG: “Oh interesting.”

Matt Laslo: “Having fun secret meetings underground?”

Kirsten Gillibrand: “We do. They’re always fun.”

ML: “I just saw [Sen. Susan] Collins (R-ME) go down [to the SCIF].”

KG: “Oh, I’m just going to the Dominican Republic…”

ML: “Was curious, what was your guys’ classified UAP briefing in January? You have it on your public schedule.”

KG: “Umm. It wasn’t about UAP.”

ML: “Oh really, it wasn’t?”

Gillibrand shakes her head.

ML: “Typo.”

KG: “No. It was in the context of that, but it was not about that. It was about broader…”

Gillibrand flashes, ‘I can’t say’ look, as they pass through the heavy fireproof doors leading into the CVC. 

ML: “Have you reached out to AARO [All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office] at all?“

KG: “Not yet, but I’ve asked to meet the guy. Remember, I’m going to meet with the interim guy?”

Gillibrand looks to her staffer. 

ML: “I think it’s Tim Phillips?”

They agree. 

KG: “Yeah, I mean, Tim Phillips.”

ML: “You’ve already met with him in the past, you just didn’t know he was interim?”

KG: “Have I met with Tim Phillips in the past?”

ML: “I don’t know.”

KG: “I don’t think I have.”

ML: “I haven’t.”

KG: “I’m going to meet with him. I’m gonna meet with him. Umm.”

ML: “Feels like this is still the start of — oh no, kind of a slow start to the year, but it’s a campaign year and all that. The border deal kinda sucks a lot of the oxygen out of the town?”

KG: “Yeah.”

ML: “Yeah? Umm.”

KG: “But we’ll get back to it, I promise.”