Moolenaar Statement on the U.S. Military Taking Out the CCP Surveillance Balloon

Today, the United States military took out a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina. The action came after the balloon had traveled across the country for a week. Bloomberg News reported last night that the Biden Administration first knew about the balloon on January 28th, and ABC News reported the administration knew about the balloon when it was over the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

"The Biden administration knew about the Chinese Community Party's spy balloon a week ago. It then allowed the balloon to travel across the U.S., collecting information, before finally taking it down. Those seven days of weakness and inaction jeopardized our national security. The balloon could have been stopped after it was first spotted and posed minimal threat to the public," said Congressman John Moolenaar.

Bloomberg News reported last night that Biden and his team decided to keep information about the balloon from the American public for days and only went public after people in Montana reported sightings of the balloon.

"As it turns out, US authorities were well aware of the unidentified object that had entered American airspace on Jan. 28, that had then left and re-entered over North Idaho on Tuesday. But with such a high-profile trip at stake, keeping it on the down-low was key.

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"The president ultimately decided to let the balloon continue on its way as the US sought answers from the Chinese embassy in Washington, but they struggled to obtain satisfactory responses. US officials said they were baffled by China, which itself appeared to be caught off-guard by the bizarre incident. 

"For now, the White House opted not to inform the American public. Events, however, soon forced Biden’s hand. 

"On Thursday afternoon, the Billings Gazette, a local Montana paper, published a photo of the balloon – meaning it was only a matter of time until national media would pick up on the report and the Biden administration would have to face questions. 

"The pace of discussions in the White House quickened. 

"In a call starting at 5:15pm on Thursday, the administration finally went public."

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