Pentagon watchdog opens probe into Hegseth's use of Signal to discuss Houthi attack plans
The Pentagon's inspector general has launched an investigation into whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated department policy by discussing military attack plans in a private Signal chat, following a report by The Atlantic.
The probe will examine whether Hegseth improperly discussed operational plans for a U.S. offensive against the Houthis in Yemen and will also review "compliance with classification and records retention requirements," according to a memo from Inspector General Steven Stebbins.
The investigation was launched after the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate's Armed Services Committee requested it last week.
"This chat was alleged to have included classified information pertaining to sensitive military discussions in Yemen," Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and ranking member Jack Reed, D-R.I., wrote in a letter to acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins. "If true, this reporting raises questions as to the use of unclassified networks to discuss classified and sensitive information."
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
21 minutes ago
- The Hill
Newsom mocks Hegseth, Trump over ‘job well done' post on National Guard
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump in a post on the social platform X on Sunday amid tension between the governor and the Trump administration over protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In response to a Sunday post on the social platform X from Hegseth featuring a screenshot of another post from President Trump on his Truth Social platform in which congratulated the National Guard, saying they had done a 'great job' in Los Angeles following 'two days of violence, clashes and unrest,' Newsom mocked Hegseth and Trump as 'smart guys.' 'Smart guys running the operation. The National Guard wasn't even deployed on the ground when Trump posted this. Pete Hegseth runs the Pentagon as well as he throws an axe on a Fox News set,' Newsom said in his own X post on Sunday, referencing a 2015 incident in which a man was struck by an ax tossed by Hegseth. Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard members to the Los Angeles area on Saturday amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said previously the action was due to 'violent mobs' recently attacking 'Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations.' 'These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California's feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens. That is why President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester,' Leavitt said. California National Guard troops started arriving in Los Angeles on Sunday morning, with the U.S. Northern Command saying on X that the California National Guard had proceeded with deploying troops in the Los Angeles area, 'with some already on the ground.' Newsom's press office also went after the Trump administration over the situation in Los Angeles on X, with one post referencing the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots, slamming another post from the Department of Homeland Security about 'violent rioters.' The Hill has reached out to the White House, the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
The Hill
31 minutes ago
- The Hill
Johnson: Deploying Marines to Los Angeles protests would not be ‘heavy-handed'
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Sunday that deploying the Marine Corps to Los Angeles to suppress protests, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has suggested, would not be 'heavy-handed.' 'Secretary Hegseth said that active0duty Marines there at Camp Pendleton, there by San Diego, are on high alert and could be mobilized. Could we really see active duty Marines on the streets of Los Angeles?' ABC News's Jonathan Karl asked on 'This Week.' 'You know, one of our core principles is maintaining peace through strength. We do that on foreign affairs and domestic affairs as well. I don't think that's heavy-handed,' Johnson responded. Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard members to the Los Angeles area on Saturday amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the action was due to 'violent mobs' attacking federal agents 'carrying out basic deportation operations.' 'The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE,' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a post on the social platform X on Sunday morning. Deploying active-duty forces against Americans on U.S. soil would be an extraordinary move, and would require bypassing laws that prevent the military from being used for domestic law enforcement purposes. There's also little precedent for deploying the National Guard to states that have not requested the help. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday went after Trump over the deployment of the National Guard to the Los Angeles area, saying the president 'thinks he has a right to do anything.' 'He does not believe in the Constitution; he does not believe in the rule of law,' Sanders told CNN's Dana Bash on 'State of the Union.' 'My understanding is that the governor of California, the mayor of the city of Los Angeles, did not request the National Guard, but he thinks he has a right to do anything he wants,' he added.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump Advisers Once Opposed Using Active-Duty Troops at Protests. Not Anymore.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was prepared to send active-duty Marines to the Los Angeles area to respond to demonstrations.
