Hegseth's Signal Snafu Was It a Leak or a Cover-Up?

Pentagon Investigates Leak of War Plans via Hegseth's Signal Texts: Were Deletion Attempts Made?

The Pentagon is currently embroiled in a sensitive investigation surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the alleged leak of classified military information through the encrypted messaging app, Signal. The probe focuses on how details of planned strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen found their way into unsecured channels and whether there were subsequent attempts to cover up the breach.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General (DOD IG) has been actively interviewing current and former staff members of Secretary Hegseth for several weeks. The core questions revolve around:

• Authorship: Did Secretary Hegseth personally compose the Signal messages containing classified strike details, or were they written by other staffers?
• Classification: What was the classification level of the leaked information?
• Deletion Attempts: Were any staff members instructed by Secretary Hegseth or others to delete the messages in question?

The investigation is particularly sensitive given legal requirements to retain federal communications as official records.

“Because this is one of the DOD IG’s ongoing projects, in accordance with our policy we do not provide the scope or details to protect the integrity of the process and avoid compromising the evaluation,” DOD IG spokesperson Mollie Halperin told ABC News, underscoring the seriousness with which the matter is being treated.

Hegseth shared details of war plans in at least two group chats, officials said.

The leaked details reportedly surfaced in two separate Signal chat groups:

• One group included Vice President JD Vance and other high-ranking officials.
• The second group controversially included Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Hegseth, who is not a government employee.

The timing of the alleged leaks is also under scrutiny. The sharing of information reportedly occurred around the same time in mid-March when key members of President Donald Trump's National Security Council, including Hegseth, inadvertently shared details about the March 15 missile strike in Yemen with the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.

The inclusion of family members in a chat discussing sensitive military operations has raised eyebrows and intensified scrutiny on Secretary Hegseth's handling of classified information.

What's Next?

The timeline for the release of the IG's findings remains unclear. However, Hegseth is scheduled to testify before lawmakers on Tuesday, where he is expected to face tough questions from Democratic members regarding his handling of classified and sensitive information. This hearing promises to be a critical moment for Secretary Hegseth as he addresses these serious allegations.

The investigation into the alleged leaks from Secretary Hegseth's Signal messages highlights the critical importance of safeguarding classified information in an increasingly digital age. It also underscores the potential risks associated with using unsecured communication channels for official government business. The outcome of this probe will undoubtedly have significant implications for Secretary Hegseth and the broader Department of Defense.

Tags: Pete Hegseth, War Plans, Signal Texts, Pentagon, Investigators, D-Day, US Cemetery, Normandy, Defense Secretary, Leaks, Classified Information, DOD IG, Yemen, JD Vance

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/investigators-hegseths-signal-texts-told-delete-sources/story?id=122599057