Who?
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) — Co-chair, Congressional UAP Caucus; Member, Task Force on Declassification of Federal Secrets
LISTEN: Laslo & Burchett chat UAPs
Ask a Pol asks:
It doesn't sound like the new Task Force on Declassification of Federal Secrets has talked UAPs yet — have you guys talked UAPs in the Secrets Task Force yet?
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Key Burchett:
“Not yet. I don't think so. No,” Rep. Tim Burchett told Ask a Pol. “They're trying to formulate a plan with [David] Grusch, I think, and get some ideas. I've heard some things that he was talking about that, I don't know, it could be very, may be, promising.”
ICYMI — Chair Luna announced UAP schedule today*
*Luna released new UAP timeline an hour and a half or so after Ask a Pol…
What should we be asking ahead of UAP hearing?
Isn’t it weird you got passed over for Secrets’ chair?
“I’m good with it,” Burchett says. “I'm never gonna be chairman of a committee. I don't kiss enough a**, and I don't raise enough money.”
“I'm never gonna be chairman of a committee.
I don't kiss enough a**, and I don't raise enough money.”
EXTENDED INTERVIEW: Laslo, Burchett, AP, MSNBC*
*first half is NON-uap related, fyi
Caught our ear:
It kinda feels like the Congressional UAP Caucus is now the Secrets Task Force?
“Yeah,” Burchett tells us. “It is.”
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Tim Burchett
SCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo waits in the wings as throngs of congressional reporters pepper Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) with questions mere hours before House Republicans struck a deal with Senate Majority Leader John Thune to pass President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget blueprint — think funding deportations and extending expiring tax cuts.
Once Burchett’s exhausted most all questions from the crowd, Laslo starts walking back to his office with him when an Associated Press reporter and then an MSNBC one join in and ask Burchett some questions before Laslo finally gets Burchett solo — after he stops to say ‘hi’ to a Capitol visitor’s pup — for you, fam!
Pup: “Woof, woof, woof, woof.”
Laslo turns to pup.
Matt Laslo: “Oh, hi puppy.”
Laslo turns back to Burchett.
ML: “Have you ever? Have you looked — now on UAPs — have you looked into [Jake] Barber's claims?”
Tim Burchett: “Nuh-uh.”
Laslo laughs.
ML: “He was a newer whistleblower.”
TB: “What's he got?”
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ML: “He was the one on NewsNation a couple months ago.”
TB: “Okay. What was that?”
ML: “Kind of backs up Grusch, but y’all gotta check it out.”
TB: “Grusch is up here today.”
ML: “Well, yeah, he’s now working for [Rep. Eric] Burlison.”
TB: “Yeah.”
ML: “I haven't seen him.”
TB: “How’s that work? What do you think he's paying him? I wouldn't even know.”
ML: “I know. I don't even know. Well, he's part-time staffer.”
TB: “I’m afraid to ask.”
Laslo laughs.
ML: “That will be interesting.”
Burchett’s staff is messaging him.
ML: “Where does it go? What do you think? Like have you guys as even met as the UAP Caucus yet this Congress?”
Burchett on phone with his staffer.
TB: “Where you at Kelsey? Okay, I’m walking that way. See ya in a minute. Alright, bye.”
ML: “Has the UAP Caucus met?”
TB: “Do what?”
ML: “Has the UAP Caucus met yet?”
TB: “Umm, I think they met with Grusch today. I just…”
ML: “Yeah, Luna and Burlison did, but it kinda feels like the UAP Caucus is now the Secrets Task Force?”
TB: “Yeah, it is.”
ML: “And, well, it doesn't sound like Secrets has talked UAPs yet.”
Visitor 1: “We’re leaving in five minutes.”
Visitor 2: “Yes.”
Visitor 1: “Go, go, go, go.”
ML: “Have you guys talked UAPs in the Secrets Task Force yet?”
TB: “Have we what?”
ML: “Talked about UAPs in the Secrets Task Force yet?”
TB: “Not yet, I don't think so. No.”
ML: “Yeah?”
TB: “They're trying to formulate a plan with Grusch, I think, and get some ideas. I've heard some things that he was talking about that could be very, may be, promising. But we’ll see, it's all it's all kind of folded in under that one big committee, or the, you know, Luna's committee. So that's…”
ML: “Wasn’t it weird that you got passed over for that?”
TB: “I’m good with it.”
ML: “You're fine with it?”
TB: “I'm never gonna be chairman of a committee. I don't kiss enough a**, and I don't raise enough money. And I can't just — and that's what I'm going down here to do right now.”
ML: “Yeah?”
TB: “Yeah, try to, it's just hard for me. I don't have, you know, a lot of billionaires…”
ML: “Yeah?”
TB: “…and my working folks are just — they vote for me. They just can't afford to write me a check. And that kinda holds me in a soft spot there, because…”
ML: “Yeah, I feel that.”
TB: “…somebody comes in and dumps a ton of money and attacks me, it's kind of hard for me to come back.”
ML: “Yeah?”
TB: “I’m very much aware that every day I'm up here I'm making more enemies with leadership and they'd love to get rid of me. That’s the point.”
ML: “Yeah? You ain’t the first that they’ve had a target on.”
Laslo laughs.
TB: “I know that.”
ML: “Well, enjoy it while it lasts.”
TB: “Alright, brother.”
ML: “Good to see ya! Be well.”
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