The National Sheriffs’ Association spanked the Biden administration Thursday for a lack of candor about the drones spotted in New Jersey and surrounding states, saying federal officials have been giving local cops a stiff-arm.
“I continue to be deeply concerned by the lack of transparency and deliberate stonewalling of information from the Biden Administration,” Kieran Donahue, president of the association and sheriff of Canyon County, Idaho, said in a statement.
He said the lack of information has left Americans “on edge.”
“Is there something they are not telling the citizens of this country, or is it that they just don’t know? Either way, the rhetoric is unacceptable and dangerous,” he said. “Just tell the truth.”
The sightings began a month ago in New Jersey, sparking a panic as residents asked for answers.
Federal authorities initially said the sightings were “concerning,” then said they were mostly mistakes, with people confusing airplanes and stars for drones. More recently authorities have acknowledged valid drone sightings but said they are all either hobbyists, legal commercial flights or law enforcement operations.
“Nothing nefarious apparently, but they’re checking it all out,” President Biden said on Tuesday.
“There’s a lot of drones authorized up there. I think one started it and they all — everybody wanted to get in the deal,” he said.
Federal officials have also reversed themselves and now say drones have been reported in restricted airspace.
The changing explanations have fueled distrust.
Rep. Chris Smith, New Jersey Republican, had revealed last week that personnel on a Coast Guard boat said they were trailed by more than a dozen drones that weaved course as they followed the vessel and at one point flashed lights at the boat.
Mr. Smith said it was dismissive to say that trained personnel were actually seeing airplanes.
“The Biden White House needs to stop changing their story and instead be honest and frank with the American people — who deserve the truth and absolute transparency. We tolerate no coverups here,” he said.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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