Ocean County Leader

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) held a news conference in Seaside Heights, NJ, addressing the ongoing issue of unidentified drone activity across New Jersey. He criticized Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for downplaying the situation. Smith quoted Mayorkas as saying, "We haven’t seen anything unusual. We know of no threat," and expressed disbelief at this statement.

Smith highlighted the widespread sightings of drones reported by citizens, law enforcement, and military personnel. He questioned how assurances could be made that there is no threat when the origins and missions of these drones remain unknown.

The congressman emphasized the need for action to address potential threats posed by these drones, citing recent sightings at Naval Weapons Station Earle and an incident involving a Coast Guard rescue boat followed closely by drones. He called for efforts to capture or track a suspect drone to its origin.

Smith also referenced past incidents like the Chinese Communist Party Spy balloon and suggested that the sophisticated maneuvering of these drones could indicate deployment by major military powers such as Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea.

He mentioned his communication with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, requesting authorization to use force against these unmanned threats to uncover their origins. Smith stressed the importance of not trivializing or dismissing the potential threat given how drone warfare has impacted conflicts globally.

Smith thanked Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden for their efforts in investigating and tracking drone appearances. He noted that state and local law enforcement are limited by law in taking decisive action against these drones.

Sheriff Golden recently requested legislation to empower state police to protect at-risk persons and infrastructure from dangerous drones. In response, Smith is drafting a bill to address this issue.