Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland has said that he personally witnessed “dozens of large drones” flying above his home in Davidsonville, Maryland, on Thursday evening as the mystery surrounding the various unexplained sightings continues. 

“Last night, beginning at around 9:45 pm, I personally witnessed (and videoed) what appeared to be dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland (25 miles from our nation’s capital),” Hogan wrote on X Friday. “I observed the activity for approximately 45 minutes.”

The former governor said he does not know if these drone sightings are evidence of a threat to public safety or national security, but he called out the federal government for a “complete lack of transparency” in the face of Americans’ concerns.

DRONE MYSTERY BEFUDDLES NEW JERSEY OFFICIALS, FRUSTRATES RESIDENTS

“The government has the ability to track these from their point of origin but has mounted a negligent response. People are rightfully clamoring for answers, but aren’t getting any,” Hogan wrote. 

“We are being told that neither the White House, the military, the FBI, or Homeland Security have any idea what they are, where they came from, or who has launched or is controlling them–and that they pose no threat.

“That response is entirely unacceptable. I join with the growing bipartisan chorus of leaders demanding that the federal government immediately address this issue. The American people deserve answers and action now.” 

Hogan posted a two-minute-long video of what he saw, although it is hard to make out what the objects were. 

A series of unidentified drone sightings near U.S. military installations and over residences have been spotted in New Jersey since mid-November, which is causing alarm.

Apparent drones have also been spotted in New York City as well as over three US airbases in the UK.

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby has said many of the purported drone sightings are actually lawfully operated manned aircraft and that there is no evidence of a national security or public safety threat.

Frustrated residents who believe the government’s answers are insufficient have threatened to take matters into their own hands and shoot them down. Both parties have criticized the government’s handling of the situation. 

New Jersey State Assemblyman Paul Kanitra took a photo of what appears to be multiple drones hovering in the New Jersey sky on Thursday, Dec. 13. (Paul Kanitra/”Fox News @ Night”)

WE ARE VULNERABLE TO DRONE ATTACK AND IT’S GOING TO GET WORSE

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said on Capitol Hill on Thursday that he is “frustrated” by the government’s lack of transparency.

The senator said that he has issued a letter asking for more information because Americans should be aware of what is happening in the skies.

“I’ve been a little frustrated,” he told reporters. “There hasn’t been enough transparency letting people know what’s happening. It’s allowing a lot of potentially misinformation to spread, or at least fear. We should know what’s going on over our skies.”

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy asked President Biden to direct more federal resources to get to the bottom of the numerous drone sightings across the Garden State in recent weeks.

Murphy noted the federal law limits the ability of state and local law enforcement to counter drones, but says the federal government has the authority to shoot down the mysterious drones.

In a separate letter to congressional leaders, Murphy asked lawmakers to pass legislation to empower local authorities to use advanced detection and mitigation technology to deal with drone activity.

“The emerging threat from UAS flights, coupled with the inability of state and local law enforcement to engage meaningfully with them, is a cause for concern,” Murphy wrote.

Photos taken in the Bay Shore section of Toms River of what appear to be large drones hovering in the area at high altitudes in New Jersey on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. The drones seemed to be well above the 400 feet height FAA regulations allow. (Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press)

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The FAA said it is investigating the reported sightings and also issued a temporary flight restriction for the airspace around the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.

“We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Drone operators who conduct unsafe operations that endanger other aircraft or people on the ground could face fines up to $75,000. In addition, we can suspend or revoke drone operators’ pilot certificates.”

Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report. 

A 14-year-old girl was jumped and beaten on her way to cheerleading practice last week at her Maryland high school, her mother told News4.

Juanita Caldwell says her daughter was assaulted by a group of students at Potomac High School in Oxon Hill.

“My daughter had a knot on the left side of her face,” Caldwell said. “On the right side, her eye and nose were, like, collectively swollen together. Maybe, like, just smooshed in together. It was blood all over her face; blood all over her jacket.”

Some of the attack was captured on cellphones by students who watched.

Potomac High School security responded and dispersed the students, Prince George’s County Public Schools officials said.

But Caldwell said her daughter was jumped again near a utility room afterward, sustaining injuries that required her to be taken to a hospital.

Caldwell said it’s been made worse by hearing this week that the students involved remain at the school.

“I want Potomac High School to expel these students for viciously attacking my child,” she said.

PGCPS officials confirmed a student was injured at Potomac High last week. They said they can release very little information due to juvenile privacy laws.

“School district administrators are in contact with the student’s family, and we are working to provide any necessary mental health support to the victim,” PGPCS said in a statement. “The incident is under active investigation.”

Despite the fact her daughter loves her classes and activities at Potomac, Caldwell does not feel safe allowing her to return.

“Even the day of the attack while she’s in the hospital, she’s asking the doctor when she’s going to be able to go back to cheerleading practice,” she said.

Friends and family of the 14-year-old are planning a show of support for her at the school Monday morning.

Caldwell said she has been contacted by the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office but does not know if the students involved will face any criminal charges.

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Reports of drones or other aircraft flying around at night have spread from New Jersey to Maryland.

And though federal officials have said the sightings don’t pose a threat — and that they have not even been corroborated — that’s not stopped people from speculating about what’s happening.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan said he saw some flying in the area over his house in Davidsonville around 9:45 p.m. Thursday in a social media post.

“Like many who have observed these drones, I do not know if this increasing activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security,” Hogan wrote.

Residents in Bowie said they saw drones as big as “cars,” Fox 5 DC reported Thursday.

A spokesperson for Gov. Wes Moore said in an email on Friday the state is “aware of the reports of potential unmanned aerial system sightings and are working closely with federal authorities.”

Maryland State Police are also on alert.

“Public safety is our top priority,” MSP spokesperson Elena Russo said in an email on Friday. “We are aware of the recent reports of drone activity and are working in consultation with our federal partners.”

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said in a White House press briefing that the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with state and local law enforcement agencies are investigating the reports.

But, he said, none of the reported visual sightings have been corroborated — and that many of the reported sightings of drones have turned out to be legally operated, manned aircraft. There have been no reports of drone activity in restricted airspace and the sightings are not related to a “foreign nexus” Kirby said.

Even though there is no known malicious activity, Kirby said, the reports “highlight a gap” in federal authority to respond to drone or other unmanned aircraft activity.

That’s why, Kirby said, the White House is urging Congress to pass legislation that would expand counter-drone authorities so that officials could better identify and mitigate potential threats.

While the Pentagon has shot down some of the conspiracy theories around the sightings — like claims of an “Iranian mothership” for drones, the Coast Guard did confirm one of its ships was followed by unidentified aircraft off the coast of New Jersey.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, in a letter to President Joe Biden, said reports of drone activity have been incoming since Nov. 18.

Murphy said he was grateful for the Biden administration’s response so far, but that “more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity.”