EXCLUSIVE — Senate Intel. Chair Warner & Vice-Chair Rubio “recently” met with head of AARO

Press corps waits for a press conference to start just off the Senate floor. Photo: Matt Laslo

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner and Vice-Chair Marco Rubio “recently” met with All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) Director Sean Kirkpatrick and, according to Warner, “reiterated our belief that this is a really serious topic and needs to be treated that way.”

Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s interview with Sen. Mark Warner, slightly edited for clarity.

Matt Laslo: “Fancy meeting you here.” 

I saw Warner hop on an elevator on the 2nd floor so I hopped another one down to the Capitol’s basement and met him as his elevator door’s opened. 

ML: “I’m curious. There's reporting out there that you are the one who's blocking all UAP hearings here in the Senate...” 

Warner says nothing—my mic picks up audio from a reporter we walk past. Warner looks perplexed and bewildered, lips never moving, turns to a staffer, his face screaming: WTF? 

ML: “I know.” 

I say, my eyes embarrassed and begging forgiveness for asking a dumb, ill-informed question knowing that the Senate Intelligence Chair does not unilaterally have the power to squash other committee’s investigations.  

ML: “What happened to the investigation after the inspector general report came over here?” 

Mark Warner: “I know that staff sat down—let me get you a fulsome answer.” 

ML: “I am curious, what's your guys' plan? Because the House Oversight…” 

MW: “Every whistleblower, the committee’s treated with respect and fully heard out.”  

ML: “Well, [Sen. Mike] Rounds said he met with the head of AARO, Kirkpatrick, and said he pushed him on the fact that whistleblowers don't feel protected.” 

MW: “The vice-chairman [Marco Rubio] and I have met recently with Dr. Kirkpatrick and reiterated our belief that this is a really serious topic and needs to be treated that way. And it's the first time that the federal government has put the resources and the scientific heft behind this effort, and we are absolutely very closely monitoring it.” 

ML: “Have you talked to Administrator Nelson at NASA about his new UAP venture?” 

MW: “Not recently, but I do know that NASA—I thought NASA was it a folding into? Let me, I’ll talk to Bill.” 

ML: “Yeah. I’ll follow back up. Preciate ya!” 

Matt Laslo’s a veteran congressional correspondent, new media prof. and founder of Ask a Pol — the people-powered press corps. 

Ask a Pol is a new, people-powered press corps, asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. Follow us on the socials @Ask_a_Pol (or @askpols on Insta).