The inquiry stems from a significant security breach involving sensitive military information shared on a commercial messaging app after a journalist was mistakenly included in internal communications.
**Pentagon Investigates Hegseth's Use of Signal App for Discussing Military Strikes**
**Pentagon Investigates Hegseth's Use of Signal App for Discussing Military Strikes**
The Department of Defense’s inspector general is scrutinizing Pete Hegseth's messaging practices amidst allegations of policy violations.
The US Department of Defense's inspector general has initiated an investigation into Pete Hegseth's usage of the Signal messaging app to communicate vital information regarding military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen. This scrutiny follows a troubling incident where a journalist was unintentionally added to a group chat that contained detailed discussions about planned military strikes, prompting significant concerns from various political quarters, including demands for resignations from Democrats.
The White House has encountered considerable criticism for this lapse in protocol after details were revealed regarding a chat with Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, where strategic plans, such as timing and weaponry details for those strikes, were openly discussed. Following requests from the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee, the investigation will explore adherence to Defense Department policies on using private messaging platforms for official correspondence.
Acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins notified Hegseth of the review, which will not only assess compliance with messaging app regulations but also examine adherence to classification and records retention protocols. In his communication, Stebbins requested that Hegseth provide two relevant contacts, encompassing a government employee knowledgeable about the incident as well as a high-ranking official, in a five-day timeframe.
The inquiry is set to extend to the US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and as stated by Attorney General Pam Bondi during a recent news conference, no cases related to this have been referred to her office yet. The initiation of the probe follows a formal request made by Senators Roger Wicker and Jack Reed on March 26, who echoed concerns surrounding the appropriate use of unclassified networks for sensitive discussions, thereby highlighting a potential breach of security protocols in the current administration.
Questions regarding the security of the Signal app and implications of its use for sensitive military communications have been raised, amplifying scrutiny surrounding the ongoing fallout from this incident.
