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.”

SCENE: Gillibrand just cast a vote on the Senate floor and is heading for the closest elevator, when she’s surprised to bump into Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo.

Matt Laslo: “Hey senator.”

Kirsten Gillibrand: “Oh hey.”

ML: “Separate topic.”

KG: “Yeah.”

ML: “I’m wondering about your trip to Nevada with the Air Force.”

KG: “Excellent.”

ML: “What [were] the topics de jour? I was a little surprised to see you out there.”

KG: “Manufacturing.”

ML: “Manufacturing?”

KG: “Yeah.”

ML: “Cause, you know, in the House they’re investigating whether…”

KG: “I was in Nevada and California, and so I got to tour a couple of different manufacturers, and what they’re

doing for the Air Force is very exciting.”

ML: “Cause in the House they’re investigating the UAP issue and whether Northrop Grumman and Lockheed

are part of the ‘cover-up.’ Did that come up at all?”

KG: “Yeah, I know that allegation. I know the allegation. Did not come up in my review.”

ML: “No?”

KG: “But I was very grateful to see the excellent work that our military’s doing.”

ML: “Yeah? Was that campaign stuff for your colleagues?”

KG: “Everything I was doing was classified that was Air Force-related. But what I was doing in Nevada after and California after, was for my campaign.”

ML: “You guys have so much fun with your classifications.”

KG: “I know!”

ML: “Have fun, ma’am! Preciate ya.”

ML: “Have you had time to check out that new AARO report yet? The declassified one?”

KG: “Haven’t read it yet.”

ML: “No?”

KG: “I read the reports on what it said, but I don’t have it yet.”

ML: “Yeah? I’ll look for you next week on it.”

KG: “Yeah. I’ll read it. Thank you.”

Matt Laslo: “I wanted to ask you, did you see that Joint Chiefs of Staff letter last May? The one about — or on UAPs but kind of just alerting…?”

Kirsten Gillibrand: “I don’t remember what it said. I imagine I saw it, but I think what they’re most worried about is safety for pilots and domain awareness around bases and around nuclear sites. It’s essential that we have full domain awareness in our most specialized, most top-secret locations. We don’t want spying by adversaries. and so, we hadn’t developed the technology or the ability to detect all these items, and there’s been a couple of drone attacks* that are concerning.”

*Gillibrand misspoke.

ML: “Yeah?”

KG: “So…”

ML: “Oh interesting, ‘attacks’?”

KG: “What?”

ML: “Attacks? Or surveillance?”

KG: “That’s not the right word.”

One of Gillibrand’s aides went ahead to the Senate Dining Room — which is Senators Only — and keeps sticking his head out every lil bit to speed her and her other aide up.

Gillibrand aide: “Senator, you really have to get going.”

KG to aide: “I know. Oh my gosh.”

Gillibrand turns back to Ask a Pol. 

KG: “You’re right, drone ‘attack’ isn’t the right word, but drone…”

ML: “Incursions?”

KG: “Incursions. That are disturbing and need to be known and seen and be able to be taken down. So we had that — we had some hearings on that already.”

ML: “Interesting. ‘Preciate ya.”