Leaked Signal messages that allegedly shared military information bring more ‘bad news' for US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (Image credit: AP)
The Pentagon's watchdog is investigating whether aides to
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
were asked to delete
Signal
messages that may have shared sensitive military information with a reporter. This inquiry focuses on how information about the March 15 airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen was disseminated through the messaging app. The investigation comes as Hegseth is scheduled to testify before Congress next week for the first time since his confirmation hearing. He is expected to face questions under oath regarding his handling of sensitive information, as well as broader turmoil within the
Pentagon
, including recent senior aide departures and an internal probe into information leaks.
Previously, Hegseth has faced scrutiny over the installation of an unsecured internet line in his office, which reportedly bypassed Pentagon security protocols. He has also drawn attention for sharing details about the military strikes in multiple Signal chats, including one that inadvertently included The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Two people familiar with the investigation and documents reviewed by the news agency Associated Press confirmed the probe.
The
Pentagon investigation
is checking whether Hegseth's Signal chats, which included his wife, brother, top national security officials, and, inadvertently, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, shared sensitive information about upcoming military strikes.
Investigators are also probing whether anyone was asked to delete messages and who had access to Hegseth's phone. Critics argue that posting such detailed information before the strikes could have endangered pilots, a move that would typically lead to disciplinary action for lower-ranking military members.
What US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said about the 'leaked' Signal messages
Hegseth maintains that no classified information was shared, though current and former military officials dispute that claim.
In April, following reports about the chat that included his family members, Hegseth said to Fox News Channel: 'I said repeatedly, nobody is texting war plans. I look at war plans every day. What was shared over Signal then and now, however you characterise it, was informal, unclassified communications, for media coordinations and other things. That's what I've said from the beginning.'
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his support for Hegseth, praising him during a Memorial Day speech despite the ongoing Signal chat controversy.
Since the incident, Hegseth has kept a low public profile, avoiding Pentagon press briefings, with his spokesman addressing reporters only once, the AP report claims.
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