Pentagon’s Hegseth Faces Scrutiny Over Leaked Yemen Communications
U.S. officials are scrutinizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for sharing sensitive military details regarding Yemen strikes in a group chat. The Trump administration claims no classified information was shared, despite contradicting statements from key officials. The Senate Armed Services Committee aims to investigate the matter and ensure accountability and protocol adherence.
On Tuesday, U.S. intelligence officials redirected focus to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following the publication of sensitive information regarding imminent military actions in Yemen. The original disclosure came from Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, who revealed Hegseth’s involvement in a group chat on Signal with senior national security advisors to coordinate measures in Yemen. In the chat, detailed strategic information concerning the planned attacks was allegedly shared.
In response to the leak, the Trump administration asserted that no classified information was disseminated during the conversation. President Trump stated, “There was no classified information, as I understand it,” which raised eyebrows among Democrats and former officials who consider such operational details vital and highly classified. This assertion was supported by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who noted that Hegseth holds the authority to classify defense information.
Despite the administrations’ remarks, Hegseth has denied disclosing any war plans during the chat. He insisted, “Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that.” However, Goldberg contested this statement, claiming, “No, that’s a lie. He was texting war plans,” bringing further scrutiny to the situation.
Moreover, high-level national security officials highlighted that designated systems exist for the secure transmission of classified information. Ratcliffe explained that the National Security Advisor Mike Waltz initiated the Signal chat for unclassified discussions. While Hegseth could have potentially de-classified information from within the Department of Defense, there are established procedures governing such actions. Officials expressed concerns over the possibility that unilateral de-classification by Hegseth would be viewed skeptically.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that the Senate Armed Services Committee will investigate the incident, acknowledging that mistakes occurred. Representative Don Bacon, a seasoned Air Force general, emphasized that Hegseth must accept responsibility for the breach that jeopardized lives, urging honesty from the administration regarding their claims on classified details being shared.
The recent incident involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and leaked sensitive information about U.S. strikes in Yemen has incited significant controversy. As officials seek to clarify the classification of shared materials, the potential vulnerabilities in national security communications have come under scrutiny. The Senate Armed Services Committee’s planned investigation seeks to ensure accountability and prevent future breaches of protocol.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
