Donald Trump's Defence Secretary 'sent classified info' to a group chat
Signal messages sent to a group chat by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth contained information from an email marked classified, it has been reported.
The information, previewing a US military strike on Huthi targets in Yemen, was sent to the insecure group chat including several high members of the Trump administration.
It made headlines earlier this year after it emerged a journalist from The Atlantic had been added to the chat by mistake.
The White House and Pentagon have repeatedly claimed no classified information was discussed in the group chat.
But according to the Washington Post, the Defence department's inspector general has learned some of the information derived from General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, a top commander in the Middle East.
The email in question is said to have been marked "SECRET/NOFORN" - meaning it was classified secret and not to be shown to foreign nationals.
The message, sent over a classified network system, contained a rundown of air strike plans for the day, including timings and aircraft and munition types.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, faced calls for his resignation after the scandal broke.
But both he and the White House have denied any classified information was shared in the Signal chat.
A Pentagon spokesman told the Post: "The Department stands behind its previous statements: no classified information was shared via Signal.
"As we've said repeatedly, nobody was texting war plans and the success of the Department's recent operations — from Operation Rough Rider to Operation Midnight Hammer — are proof that our operational security and discipline are top notch.'
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A White House spokeswoman added: "This Administration has proven that it can carry out missions with precision and certainty, as evidenced by the successful operations that obliterated Iran's nuclear facilities and killed terrorists,
"It's shameful that the Washington Post continues to publish unverified articles based on alleged emails they haven't personally reviewed in an effort to undermine a successful military operation and resurrect a non-issue that no one has cared about for months."
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