More than a month after drones first appeared flying over New Jersey, little has been said about who might be behind them.
First seen on Nov. 18, the drones have caused a frenzy in parts of New Jersey, New York, and neighboring states.
Between four to 180 drones have been spotted every night since they first appeared, the Asbury Park Press reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday issued temporary flight restrictions through Jan. 18 for unmanned aircraft or drones over 30 locations in New York state. That followed similar measures taken in most of New Jersey, where only drones being flown by operators with special permission from the government will be allowed until Jan. 17.
The Biden administration delayed informing lawmakers about what it knew. The Department of Homeland Security didn't brief New Jersey's congressional body until Dec. 4 and then not again until weeks later, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday in a story about how the White House has tried to quell the drone frenzy.
"There is no known malicious activity occurring," White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Dec. 12, the day President Joe Biden first called the Pentagon about the drones.
DHS, the FBI, and other agencies began probing the drones days within the first drone sightings.
Unidentified drones also were spotted flying over four military bases used by the U.S. in the United Kingdom.
On Nov. 25, the FBI opened a tip line and pursued "every single one" of the 6,000 tips it received, an official told the Journal. Additionally, White House aides at the National Security Council began daily check-ins with the relevant agencies.
No evidence of criminal activity, a national security threat, or a public safety danger was discovered.
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., has said he was told that a Coast Guard vessel had been trailed by as many as 30 drones. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., insisted he was told the drones were coming from an Iranian "mothership" in the Atlantic.
A Pentagon spokesperson, however, denied Van Drew's allegations
President-elect Donald Trump suggested the White House knew more than it let on.
"Our military knows, and our president knows, and for some reason, they want to keep people in suspense," Trump told reporters last week. He also urged that the drones be shot down.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Biden most of the objects were regular, manned aircraft or hobbyist drones.
"Nothing nefarious," the president told reporters on Dec. 17. "I think one started and … everybody wanted to get in the deal."
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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