Additional Coverage:
- NJ gov says feds have authority to shoot down drones, ‘wouldn’t be opposed’ to them playing ‘more robust role’ (foxnews.com)
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy believes the federal government has the authority to shoot down unidentified drones spotted in his state. He would not oppose a more significant federal role in addressing the issue.
The origin of these drones remains a mystery. Representative Chris Smith revealed that a Coast Guard commander reported being trailed by a group of them.
Governor Murphy emphasized that there is no evidence of public safety risk based on federal input. However, he assured the public that the government is actively investigating every possible source, including theories that may seem outlandish.
Representative Jeff Van Drew has suggested that the drones could be from an Iranian ship off the East Coast. However, Murphy dismissed this claim as fearmongering, stating that the government would reveal any known information.
Murphy believes that if the drones are related to U.S. government activity, he would be surprised. He trusts the federal government’s assessment and promises to keep the public informed if the situation changes.