Press Releases

GREAT FALLS, MT - Following recent reports that the Biden Administration lied to Congress and the American people regarding the Chinese spy balloon that flew across Montana skies in February, including Malmstrom Air Force Base, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) is calling for the Biden Administration to hold a townhall for Montanans to demand answers and transparency.

NBC News reported earlier this week that the Chinese spy balloon used a U.S. internet service provider to communicate, and that the Administration intentionally kept the Chinese spy balloon secret.

“Biden’s handling of the Chinese spy balloon has been nothing short of a violation of the Constitution,” said Rep. Rosendale.  “He violated his oath of office by refusing to take the balloon down when it was spotted off the Aleutian Islands and allowed the Chinese Communist Party to collect sensitive military information and data on our civilian infrastructure for days. He violated his oath once again by allowing his Administration to lie to the American people about the balloon for months.

“I will not stand by and let the Biden Administration get away with this. The people of Montana deserve answers to this brazen espionage attempt by the Chinese Communist Party over our skies, which is why I am calling for the Biden Administration to hold a townhall in Great Falls so Montanans can get the answers they deserve.”

Following reports of the spy balloon sighting over Montana in February, Rep. Rosendale immediately sent a letter to Defense Secretary Austin demanding answers regarding the information the balloon had collected. Rep. Rosendale also called for the balloon to be safely taken down as soon as possible.

Earlier this year, Rep. Rosendale introduced the Land and National Defense Act to prevent adversarial countries like China from purchasing American farmland.

In March, Rep. Rosendale honored Billings Gazette photographer Larry Mayer with a Congressional Record for providing the first images of the spy balloon.