Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) has drawn the consternation of some Republicans over his apparent reluctance to support legislation aimed at providing greater transparency on unidentified flying objects.
Following congressional testimony by purported UFO whistleblower David Grusch and two former United States Navy aviators on Wednesday, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) referenced the obstruction of a UFO-related amendment he had offered regarding the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Burchett suggested that defense contractors are using campaign donations to influence members of Congress against UFO-related transparency efforts. He told assembled journalists, "I think it would be wise for you all to start looking at some financial disclosures of some of those corporations, some of the people who do the stonewalling in this town."
This follows Burchett's comments on his proposed amendment last week.
"I was told the intelligence community blocked [the amendment], and then I was told that the [House] intelligence committee blocked it. And it depends on who you talk to. I think that's your all's job as reporters to find out what the hell is going on with this stuff. Because you all need to start asking tough questions. And you need to start looking at people's financial disclosures as well because the groups that probably have control of this, obviously, are well-heeled in this."
Though he has not publicly named names, it seems likely that Burchett is referring to Turner.
Head of the powerful House Intelligence Committee and a member of the Armed Services Committee, Turner represents Ohio's 10th Congressional district. That district is home to the Air Force's Wright Patterson Air Force Base and numerous defense contractors. In contrast to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Turner has expressed skepticism about Grusch's claims.
Asked recently by Fox News about Grusch, Turner responded, "Really every decade, there have been individuals who have said that the United States has such pieces of unidentified flying objects that are from outer space. There is no evidence of this."
The Washington Examiner twice asked Turner's office whether he had opposed UFO-related amendments or discussed the issue with defense contractors. Turner's office did not respond. But while there is no evidence that Turner's stance on UFO issues comes at the behest of defense contractors, he has close relations with many of them.
Financial disclosures show that during the 2022 campaign cycle, Turner received $12,900 from L3Harris Technologies and $12,900 from Lockheed Martin. In the 2020 election cycle, Lockheed Martin donated $64,350 to Turner, making him the firm's third-highest House donee. Turner received $20,000 from L3Harris. In the 2018 cycle, he received $27,750 from BAE Systems and $13,700 from Lockheed.
Dedicated to appropriating congressional funds for investments in his district, Turner in June hailed new funds he secured from the House version of the National Defense Appropriation Act. This money would, he said, "grow our local economy and bolster the Miami Valley’s defense industry."
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Alongside Lockheed Martin, which manages some of the government's most classified defense research, another firm of interest in Turner's district is Radiance Technologies. Radiance holds contracts with the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and has employed former officials associated with government UFO research efforts, including Dr. Travis Taylor and Jay Stratton.
Regardless, tensions on Capitol Hill seem set to grow as more members of Congress challenge those who would rather UFO issues remain either a lesser priority or one reserved for certain committees.