The mayor of a New Jersey city joined the chorus of voices demanding clarity about the constant sighting of flying objects over the state as they don't deem explanations by federal authorities satisfying.
Bellevile Mayor Michael Melham criticized the Biden administration saying that the "lack of transparency" regarding the matter is "doing nothing but fueling conspiracy theories online." He went on to say that the sightings, which have gone on for weeks now, are "not little green men and not a foreign adversary," but that there's more than the explanations given so far.
"They continue to tell us we don't know what we're talking about, that there is misidentification. Certainly there has been some misidentification probably going on but I can assure you we are seeing drones in New Jersey all over the place," Melham said.
NEW: Belleville, NJ Mayor says drones are likely U.S. Govt assets “Looking for something”
— UAP James (@UAPJames) December 17, 2024
“We’re aware of a threat that came through Port Newark… There is an alert that’s out right now that radioactive material in New Jersey has gone missing on December 2nd.”
— @MichaelMelham pic.twitter.com/GG9OgBkWcV
The mayor was then asked if the drone activity could have to do with radioactive material: "We were told by our state police that we have assets over our critical infrastructure. the point of view of whether it's concerning or comforting, i think it's comforting because it's probably us listening and watching," he began.
"We also know that we have drones flying in a grid light pattern. In my opinion they are looking for something. What might they be looking for, potentially we're aware of a threat that came through Port Newark. Maybe that's radioactive material. There is an alert that's out right now that radioactive material in new jersey has gone missing on Dec. 2. It was a shipment that arrived at its destination. the container was damaged and empty."
Melham said he's not going to "stand for not hearing the truth" and also criticized the state government for "not getting answers from the federal government." He then wondered why there was a classified briefing to the House Intelligence Committee on the matter despite mayors being told "nothing to see here." "There's clearly something" he added on his X account.
President-elect Donald Trump is another skeptic on the matter, saying on Monday that "the government knows what is happening." "Our military knows and our president knows and for some reason they want to keep people in suspense." He refused to say whether he had been briefed on the matter.
New Jersey Senator Andy Kim, a Democrat, told The Associated Press that officials could better help the public understand what's going on. "What the public could use is like walking through that rather than just, you know, as a statement that says nothing, nothing to be concerned about," he said.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also pleaded with President Joe Bidento get to the bottom of the matter,
aiming that potential dangers to national security and safety need to be clarified given the fact that its MetLife Stadium will host the World Cup Final in July 2026.
Murphy sent a letter to Biden on Friday, saying "growing concern about reports of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in and around New Jersey" prompted him to write. And while he highlighted some steps taken by the administration, he made it clear they have not been enough to address concerns.
"It has become apparent that more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity," he wrote in another passage of the letter. "The continued reporting of UAS activity has raised more questions than answers and prompted an outcropping of conspiracy theories across social media and other platforms," Murphy added.
In consequence, he is urging the president to "continue to direct the federal agencies involved to work together until they uncover answers as to what is behind the UAS sightings."
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