The mayor of Mine Hill in New Jersey has denied comments made by White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby on Thursday regarding the recent surge of unidentified flying objects in the state.
Mayor Sam Morris of Mine Hill, located less than an hour’s drive from Newark city, told ABC News that Kirby seemed to downplay the potential threat posed by the increasing sightings of UFOs in the state, calling his remarks “absurd.”
“I have to tell you, this is too incredible. I find it hard to believe. It’s absurd,” Morris said.
Morris was referring to Kirby’s comments during Thursday’s White House briefing, where he stated that the frequent UFO sightings in the state do not constitute a national security threat.
“I would like to invite Mr. Kirby to come to Mine Hill. Come on out, Mr. Kirby, let’s go out one night around 9:30 to 10:00. I can go to the backyard of my town hall, and we can count (the UFOs) all night together,” Morris said.
Kirby also told reporters that these unidentified flying objects are “man-made aircraft” and that the operation is “legal.”
Morris denied this statement, saying, “Look up at the sky, there are some drones just hovering there. Sorry, that’s not a human small aircraft, it’s not a Cessna.”
The increase in UFO sightings in New Jersey and New York has raised concerns among American lawmakers. On Thursday, a group of senators from New Jersey and New York sent letters to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) requesting a briefing on the unidentified “drones” hovering in the nighttime sky.
Morris pointed out that Kirby’s remarks indicate a lack of necessary information from the federal government regarding UFO sightings. He stated that residents of New Jersey are going through all of this.
Defense Department spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated that currently there is “no evidence” to suggest that the unidentified drones are the work of foreign entities or hostile actors.
The FBI is investigating the matter.