Hegseth Signal Probe Reportedly Expanded To Include Second Group Chat—Here Are The Other Security Allegations Against Him
An evaluation into Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's use of Signal has been expanded to look into a second Signal group chat with his wife and lawyer in which he allegedly shared military plans, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday—the latest development in the fallout of Hegseth using the commercially available messaging app to share sensitive information.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives on the South Lawn of the White House before President Donald ... More Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday, April 21, in Washington.
May 1The inspector general for the Defense Department expanded an evaluation he launched in April into Hegseth's use of Signal to also investigate military plans that were reportedly sent by Hegseth in a second group chat with his wife and personal lawyer, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a congressional aide and person familiar with the evaluation.
April 24The Associated Press reported Hegseth had the unsecured internet connection—which has been used by other Pentagon officials, but can increase the likelihood of information being hacked—installed to use Signal on a personal computer. (A Pentagon spokesperson told the AP that Hegseth's communications systems are classified, but that 'the Secretary has never used and does not currently use Signal on his government computer.')
April 22Hegseth did not deny he shared information in a second Signal chat about Houthi strikes when asked about it by reporters, but he said he only shared 'informal, unclassified coordinations.'
April 21The New York Times reported Hegseth shared detailed information about Yemen strikes against Houthis in a second chat on the same day he shared the information in a chat with Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, though this time it was in a private Signal group with around a dozen people including his wife, brother and lawyer that Hegseth had created.
April 20John Ullyot, a former chief Pentagon spokesperson, published an opinion piece in Politico alleging it had 'been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon' and 'the building is in disarray under Hegseth's leadership.'
April 16Two Pentagon staffers, Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, were put on administrative leave, and they along with ex-Hegseth adviser Dan Caldwell released a statement three days later saying they had not been told why they were being investigated and were 'incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service' at the Pentagon ended.
April 15Caldwell—a key Hegseth adviser who Hegseth had named as the best point of contact in the Signal chat about the Yemen strikes—was placed on administrative leave for 'an unauthorized disclosure.'
April 3The inspector general of the Defense Department began an 'evaluation' into Hegseth's use of Signal at the request of the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., respectively, to determine whether any DoD policies were broken or classified information was shared.
March 31White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the 'case has been closed … as far as we are concerned' and that 'there have been steps made to ensure that something like that can obviously never happen again.'
March 26The Atlantic published screenshots of the messages sent on Signal from Hegseth and other officials that detailed attack plans for strikes on the Houthis, including precise launch times, descriptions of targets and weaponry.
March 24Hegseth denied he had sent classified information and said 'nobody was texting war plans' and suggested Goldberg was 'deceitful and highly discredited,' though a National Security Council spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the group Goldberg said he was added to.
March 24Goldberg published an article alleging he was unintentionally included in a chat on Signal in which Hegseth and other top Trump administration officials discussed sensitive plans to attack Houthi targets in Yemen.
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President Donald Trump has stood by Hegseth throughout the allegations of sharing classified information. Speaking to reporters Monday, Trump said Hegseth was 'doing a great job' and said reports on the Signal chats were 'a waste of time.' After the first report of Hegseth sending classified information in the chat with Goldberg, Trump had similar comments, and questioned whether Signal could have been the problem, saying from the White House: 'I think Signal could be defective to be honest with you ... it could be a defective platform.'
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., called for Hegseth to be removed after news of the second Signal chat broke over the weekend. He told Politico on Monday 'if it's true that he had another [Signal] chat with his family, about the missions against the Houthis, it's totally unacceptable . . . I wouldn't tolerate it if I was in charge.'
Hegseth—a former Fox News host and military veteran—was sworn in as Trump's defense secretary on Jan. 25 after his nomination drew strong criticism. During his confirmation hearings, some Republicans joined Democrats in expressing concern over allegations about sexual misconduct, issues with excessive drinking and past mismanagement that they worried made him unfit for the position. Hegseth denied the allegations against him, including that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 and that he was forced to leave a job because he had been drinking on the job. Vice President JD Vance had to break a 50-50 tie to confirm Hegesth as defense secretary after three Republicans voted against him.
Hegseth Says 'Nobody Was Texting War Plans' After Atlantic Editor Claims He Was Part Of Signal Chat (Forbes)
Trump Says He Knows 'Nothing' After Atlantic Editor's Bombshell Claim He Was In Signal Chat For War Plans (Forbes)
Defense Department Inspector General Will Evaluate Pete Hegseth's Role In Signal Chat (Forbes)
Signal Chat Leak: Trump Baselessly Suggests App 'Defective' (Live Updates) (Forbes)
White House Says It's 'Moving Forward' From Signal Leak: 'This Case Has Been Closed' (Forbes)
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