Rubio, Wicker claim Pentagon has not answered key questions about Chinese spy balloon

Sens. Marco Rubio (R–FL) Roger Wicker (R–MS) claimed in Wednesday’s letter that they had received the Pentagon Their questions regarding the Chinese spy ball that was launched from China have not been answered satisfactorily. discovered United States, January airspace

This letter was addressed to the Secretary of Defense Lloyd AustinThe Pentagon wasn’t clear about the order of events in relation to the spy satellite. Austin had received a request from the senators last month for clarification about the time when U.S intelligence found the balloon. Joe Biden Notified.

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“In particular, we await documentation demonstrating when senior officials learned of the balloon and at what point you, and the President, were provided response options,” The senators wrote. “The simple point of the letter was to establish baseline facts to inform all members of Congress.”

The confusion centers on the belief that Gen. Glen VanHerck, the leader of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, He notified his command chain about the balloon Jan. 28, when it was above the Aleutian Islands. But Austin didn’t become aware until days later after the balloon traveled over Alaska, Canada and returned to U.S. airspace.

VanHerck also came under scrutiny of the House of Representatives Wednesday. Member of the House Armed Services Committee Don Bacon VanH was asked by (R-NE).