FIRST ON FOX: The Biden administration evaded questions regarding the infamous Chinese spy balloon from Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines, who says the administration appears "more interested in covering up the truth."

A Chinese surveillance balloon was detected hovering over the Big Sky State in early February, traversing nearly the entire continental U.S. before the Biden administration decided to shoot down the spy craft.

Daines told Fox News Digital that even briefings with intelligence officials left him with more questions than answers. On Feb. 9, Daines posed 10 questions for the Biden administration, including why the balloon was allowed to enter U.S. airspace, how close it got to Montana's Malmstrom Air Force Base and missile silos, and what other sensitive national security and military sites it flew over – all of which remain unanswered.

"The Pentagon's response to my questions regarding the Chinese spy balloon fiasco shows the administration is more interested in covering up the truth and hoping it goes away than leveling with the American people, admitting where mistakes were made and working to ensure it never happens again," Daines told Fox News Digital.

DEMOCRATS' COMMENTS ON CHINESE SPY BALLOON DID NOT AGE WELL AFTER REPORT OF REAL-TIME INTELLIGENCE GATHERING

"Like the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan where 13 American lives were lost, this is a slap in the face for Montanans and Americans who watched the balloon float right over their homes and our sensitive military sites," Daines said. "Now that we know the balloon was collecting intelligence, Montanans and the country deserve better, and I hope to see my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, hold this administration accountable."

WHAT WE KNOW NOW ABOUT CHINA'S SPY FLIGHTS IS WORSE THAN ANYONE IMAGINED

Many had speculated the Chinese balloon gathered intelligence from U.S. military sites as it roamed freely across the country from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 before being shot down in South Carolina.

But despite the Biden administration's attempt to block its intelligence gathering efforts, two senior U.S. officials and a former senior administration official told NBC News this week the vessel had, in fact, collected "intelligence from several sensitive American military sites."

DEMOCRATS' COMMENTS ON CHINESE SPY BALLOON DID NOT AGE WELL AFTER REPORT OF REAL-TIME INTELLIGENCE GATHERING

The collected intelligence primarily included electronic signals, which can come from weapons systems or base personnel communications, the publication said. Beijing received the information in real-time, according to the reports. 

Reuters reported that the White House and Pentagon could not confirm whether the balloon had gathered the intelligence and fed it back to China in real time.

"I could not confirm that there was real-time transmission from the balloon back to (China) at this time," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said, adding it's something they're currently analyzing, according to Reuters.

Following the spy balloon fiasco, Daines introduced a bill to require a gap analysis of NORAD capabilities, essentially analyzing whether there are any missing components necessary to identifying potential threats from foreign aerial objects entering U.S. airspace.

A 20-year-old Ohio man was taken into custody last week for allegedly attempting to firebomb a church with Molotov cocktails to prevent a drag queen story hour for children.

Aimenn D. Penny was arrested last Friday and charged with one count of possessing a destructive device and one count of malicious use of explosive materials during his attack on the Community Church of Chesterland (UCC) in Chesterland, Ohio, on March 25, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

"Violence and destruction are never an acceptable way to express a disagreement with a particular viewpoint," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio said.

"While, as Americans, we enjoy the right to disagree, doing so peacefully is the only appropriate option. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio remains committed to protecting the rights of all citizens to express their viewpoints peacefully," she added.

DRAG QUEEN BINGO NIGHT AT CONNECTICUT CHURCH RECEIVED ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ RESPONSE FROM COMMUNITY, REVEREND SAYS

Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office said Penny's arrest was made possible through a collaborative effort between the FBI Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Chester Township Police Department.

"The FBI leveraged its task force and its specialized resources to identify, locate and subsequently arrest the subject earlier today," Nelsen said. "We thank the collaborative work and strong partnership of the Chester Township Police and Lake and Geauga County local authorities who assisted."

PROPOSED LAW WOULD SET FOOTBALL FIELD-SIZED ZONE AROUND DRAG SHOWS, FINE ‘OFFENSIVE’ SPEECH UP TO $25,000

Penny faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for the malicious use of explosive materials charge, with as many as 10 years in prison for possessing a destructive device charge if he is convicted, according to the DOJ.

"While we are sorry this happened and forgive the individual in question, we would like to see him prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as a way to send a message to other [like-minded] people and groups that violence as a form of coercion to advance any kind of agenda is unacceptable in 2023," Community Church of Chesterland, which is a member of the theologically liberal United Church of Christ (UCC), wrote on Facebook following the DOJ announcement.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS ‘TRANS COMMUNITY’ IS ‘UNDER ATTACK’ AFTER NASHVILLE SHOOTING

In another Facebook post, the church also thanked law enforcement for protecting the drag event that took place at the church Saturday.

"A huge THANK YOU is due to the Chardon and Chester Police Departments, as well as the Geauga County Sheriff's office for their incredible and overwhelming support and protection of the local citizens attending the Drag Story Hour at the church today," the church wrote.

"The number of cruisers we hear were present, the 'swat-style' vans, the Chagrin Falls' tactical mobile unit' which we were told was parked nearby ... this overwhelming presence would have put caution in the mind of any group hoping to make an opportunistic threat," the church stated.

During the event itself, one protester showed up dressed in black wearing a black mask and sat along the side of the street quietly, according to Cleveland.com.