My concern is that this is a huge distraction from the more pressing civilisation scale threats faced by humanity
Agreed.
To do so there is a minimum level of sincerity and good faith we must extend to people across all sides of this debate.
(1) Agreed that there's an ample amount of sincerity on all sides of the debate.
(2) I disagree with the suggestion that
sincerity of belief in one's claim (say, the claim "these individuals x, y and z inside the DoD have real first-hand alien evidence and experience") translates to the
truth of one's claim. Many sincere beliefs and claims are untrue or inaccurate (containing partial truths).
(3) I disagree that a person who's capable of sincerity is incapable of dishonesty and deceit.
(4) I disagree that there's no grifters and deliberate manipulators involved in this flap on the ufologist side.
If we are at a point where we are questioning every statement someone makes, including the most reputable Senators, I do not see how progress will ever be achieved.
It's not flat-out questioning but healthy criticism of the veracity and accuracy of human statements which, we should assume, are never perfect. This should be in fact taught already in schools and the opposite can be claimed: That what impedes progress is lack of basic critical thinking, including source criticism and scientific training.
It seems the same logic you are using to question Rubio's statement is that same logic the UFO believers are relying on to question AARO's statements.
Seemingly so. But the critical difference is that (1) AARO is legally mandated, by a bipartisan Congress decision none other, to pursue objective evidence-based investigations upholding rigour and accuracy, whereas Rubio isn't. He's a party hack. And (2) discrediting AARO's statements stems from a believers' dissatisfaction that Kirkpatrick has come out in the open and said thus far there's zero evidence for aliens. If one strongly believes in aliens even without solid evidence, these kinds of statements are uncomfortable and feels like AARO is controlled by, or loyal to, "they", and part of the same big cover-up. Even if the statement were just honest and objective description of the current state of play.
If you want to explore further the big picture regarding the UFO flap which you seem to be doing, please continue
on this thread which I started for that very purpose. This thread is way too long and Mick has repeatedly asked us to start other threads to go into different aspects surrounding the Grusch hearing.