Rep. Bera says Intel members are "resetting" HPSCI; UAPs not on agenda

The US Capitol. Photo: Matt Laslo

Who?

Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) — House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence aka HPSCI

Ask a Pol asks:

Is there bitter blood on HPSCI after Chair Mike Turner and co. booted former ranking member, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)? Or did getting him off there heal things?

Key Bera: 

“I mean, it’s still pretty non-partisan. We still work well together. I think he’s done a good job with Ranking Member Himes,” Bera exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “I think we’re just resetting the committee, right? I think [former Speaker] Kevin McCarthy and [Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries from the get-go, when the committee convened, met with us and said, ‘This is a super important committee — most important in Congress. And let’s put the past behind us and everyone’s got to work together.’”

Telling on HPSCI and UAPs:

“Has the UAP issue been on your radar at all?” we asked. “David Grusch who testified in front of Oversight in July?”

“No,” Bera replies. “The UFOs?”

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LISTEN: Laslo & Bera

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

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Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), slightly edited for clarity.

TRANSCRIPT: Laslo & Bera

Matt Laslo: “How are you doing?”

Ami Bera: “Good. How about yourself?

ML: “Got my pulse. What do you think of Turner? What happened there?”

AB: “Eh, I’m staying out of it. I’m on Intel, so, I mean, it was his call.”

ML: “Is the Intel Committee over here still bipartisan to non-partisan? Was this more him signaling to elements of his party?”