(NewsNation) — In a debate, Nevada Senate candidates weighed in on whether Congress should launch its own investigation into UFOs following a series of claims about secret UFO programs run by the Pentagon.
The candidates were asked the question during a debate on NewsNation local affiliate KLAS as interest in unexplained objects has surged.
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen noted that the state is home to Area 51, a military installation long-rumored to be the site of UFO research despite government denials.
“I do think it’s important to see what we’re doing there and if there’s any merit to this,” she said.
Rosen sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee and said it’s important for Congress to exercise its oversight role when it comes to government programs.
The Senate, along with the House, has planned more hearings on the subject of UFOs or, as they are known in Defense Department nomenclature, unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), for November after the election.
Republican challenger Sam Brown said he was as curious as anyone on the subject.
“I never saw any tech like that when I was in the service,” he said in reference to a video of the “Tic Tac” UAP encounter.
However, Brown suggested Congress might not be a trustworthy body to handle such an investigation, instead offering controversial billionaire and SpaceX founder Elon Musk as an alternative.
Interest in UAPs spiked after former Air Force intelligence officer and whistleblower David Grusch came forward alleging the Defense Department had a secret UFO retrieval program.
Grusch’s claims sparked a House hearing on the subject, and since then, others currently or formerly in government have shared similar stories, including former Pentagon employee Lue Elizondo.
Most recently, independent journalist Michael Shellenberger revealed the existence of an alleged whistleblower report naming such a program for the first time and saying the “Immaculate Constellation” program was used to collect intelligence on UAP reports.
