Latest news with #Rauchet
Gulf Today
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Hegseth's wife managing his image at the Pentagon
John Bowden, The Independent The wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took on an active role in managing his public appearances and even crafting messaging issued by the Department of Defense itself, a new report claimed on Wednesday. Jennifer Rauchet, the Washington Post reported, often acts as a go-between who transmits her husband's plans to agency staffers. The former Fox News producer does not hold an official position at the Pentagon but has been identified as a constant presence at the agency over the past several months. The Wall Street Journal first reported in March that Rauchet was present at two meetings between her husband and his foreign military counterparts where 'sensitive' information was discussed. At the time, the Pentagon declined to say if she had any kind of security clearance, which some spouses of officials sometimes do. Now, the Post reports that Rauchet is involved in at least two group chats using the public encrypted Signal messaging app with Pentagon appointees, and at times has directed agency staffers directly on managing the secretary's image via social media. 'We would always hear that she was saying what kind of videos he should be doing, and what kind of statements he should be doing, and how the press should be handled,' one unnamed person told the Post. Her inclusion in one Signal group chat was just one of several problematic factors which snowballed into a scandal over the Trump administration's use of the group messaging app earlier this year. Hegseth, along with other top US officials including National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Vice President JD Vance, was outed as a member of a Signal text chain on which specific sensitive information about US plans to attack Yemen were discussed prior to those attacks taking place. Also on that text chain (accidentally) was the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, who reported the messages after the attack. Though Rauchet was not part of that primary text chain, she was on a separate chain with Hegseth's brother, Phil Hegseth, a Pentagon appointee working as liason with DHS, and the secretary's personal lawyer. On that second chain, the secretary reportedly shared very similar information about the attack prior to it being carried out. The breach in security has dragged the administration down for weeks and led to calls especially for the resignation of Hegseth, who shared the attack plans on the text chain, as well as similar condemnation of Waltz for his apparent erroneous inclusion of Goldberg in the messages. President Donald Trump has expressed his support for the two officials. But Rauchet's inclusion in the text chains and continued presence at the Pentagon may in fact be a more significant issue for the administration. The Pentagon has not explained her role at the agency or completed a formal inquiry into whether any of the information shared in the two chains was classified, which Hegseth and others have strongly denied. The agency's inspector general launched an investigation in early April, which has yet to reach a conclusion. A DoD spokeswoman said in response to the Post's reporting: 'Secretary Hegseth has delivered more victories to the DoD in 100 days than most Secretaries have in four years. We are focused on RESULTS.' Critics of the administration say that the case is a clear-cut example of Hegseth and others flouting longstanding Defense Department protocols and possibly violating the law regarding sharing of classified information. 'The most recent revelations about Hegseth's having shared military plans with members of his personal circle demonstrates a brazen disdain for rules and protocols that Americans expect their leaders to follow.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pete Hegseth's wife taking on unofficial role managing his image at Pentagon, report says
The wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took on an active role in managing his public appearances and even crafting messaging issued by the Department of Defense itself, a new report claimed on Wednesday. Jennifer Rauchet, the Washington Post reported, often acts as a go-between who transmits her husband's plans to agency staffers. The former Fox News producer does not hold an official position at the Pentagon but has been identified as a constant presence at the agency over the past several months. The Wall Street Journal first reported in March that Rauchet was present at two meetings between her husband and his foreign military counterparts where 'sensitive' information was discussed. At the time, the Pentagon declined to say if she had any kind of security clearance, which some spouses of officials sometimes do. Now, the Post reports that Rauchet is involved in at least two group chats using the public encrypted Signal messaging app with Pentagon appointees, and at times has directed agency staffers directly on managing the secretary's image via social media. 'We would always hear that she was saying what kind of videos he should be doing, and what kind of statements he should be doing, and how the press should be handled,' one unnamed person told the Post. Her inclusion in one Signal group chat was just one of several problematic factors which snowballed into a scandal over the Trump administration's use of the group messaging app earlier this year. Hegseth, along with other top US officials including National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Vice President JD Vance, was outed as a member of a Signal text chain on which specific sensitive information about US plans to attack Yemen were discussed prior to those attacks taking place. Also on that text chain (accidentally) was the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, who reported the messages after the attack. Though Rauchet was not part of that primary text chain, she was on a separate chain with Hegseth's brother, Phil Hegseth, a Pentagon appointee working as liason with DHS, and the secretary's personal lawyer. On that second chain, the secretary reportedly shared very similar information about the attack prior to it being carried out. The breach in security has dragged the administration down for weeks and led to calls especially for the resignation of Hegseth, who shared the attack plans on the text chain, as well as similar condemnation of Waltz for his apparent erroneous inclusion of Goldberg in the messages. President Donald Trump has expressed his support for the two officials. But Rauchet's inclusion in the text chains and continued presence at the Pentagon may in fact be a more significant issue for the administration. The Pentagon has not explained her role at the agency or completed a formal inquiry into whether any of the information shared in the two chains was classified, which Hegseth and others have strongly denied. The agency's inspector general launched an investigation in early April, which has yet to reach a conclusion. The Independent has reached out to the department for comment. A DoD spokeswoman said in response to the Post's reporting: 'Secretary Hegseth has delivered more victories to the DoD in 100 days than most Secretaries have in four years. We are focused on RESULTS.' Critics of the administration say that the case is a clear-cut example of Hegseth and others flouting longstanding Defense Department protocols and possibly violating the law regarding sharing of classified information. 'The most recent revelations about Hegseth's having shared military plans with members of his personal circle demonstrates a brazen disdain for rules and protocols that Americans expect their leaders to follow. It also raises questions about whether Hegseth is prioritizing his own political or media ambitions over the interests of the American people,' the nonprofit watchdog group American Oversight wrote in a statement. Republicans, who currently control both chambers of Congress, are not likely to begin their own investigations of the matter, but Democrats could easily do so if the party retakes control of the House or Senate in the 2026 midterms. A number of former defense officials have said in interviews that at least some of the information shared by Hegseth in the initial Signal chain was likely classified, or should have been. The AP reported that some of the information was pulled by Hegseth from a secure channel used by US CENTCOM. 'It is unheard of to have a secretary of defense committing these kind of serious security breaches,' said former Defense secretary and former CIA director Leon Panetta. 'Developing attack plans for defensive reasons is without question the most classified information you can have.'
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Pete Hegseth's wife taking on unofficial role managing his image at Pentagon, report says
The wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took on an active role in managing his public appearances and even crafting messaging issued by the Department of Defense itself, a new report claimed on Wednesday. Jennifer Rauchet, the Washington Post reported, often acts as a go-between who transmits her husband's plans to agency staffers. The former Fox News producer does not hold an official position at the Pentagon but has been identified as a constant presence at the agency over the past several months. The Wall Street Journal first reported in March that Rauchet was present at two meetings between her husband and his foreign military counterparts where 'sensitive' information was discussed. At the time, the Pentagon declined to say if she had any kind of security clearance, which some spouses of officials sometimes do. Now, the Post reports that Rauchet is involved in at least two group chats using the public encrypted Signal messaging app with Pentagon appointees, and at times has directed agency staffers directly on managing the secretary's image via social media. 'We would always hear that she was saying what kind of videos he should be doing, and what kind of statements he should be doing, and how the press should be handled,' one unnamed person told the Post. Her inclusion in one Signal group chat was just one of several problematic factors which snowballed into a scandal over the Trump administration's use of the group messaging app earlier this year. Hegseth, along with other top US officials including National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Vice President JD Vance, was outed as a member of a Signal text chain on which specific sensitive information about US plans to attack Yemen were discussed prior to those attacks taking place. Also on that text chain (accidentally) was the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, who reported the messages after the attack. Though Rauchet was not part of that primary text chain, she was on a separate chain with Hegseth's brother, Phil Hegseth, a Pentagon appointee working as liason with DHS, and the secretary's personal lawyer. On that second chain, the secretary reportedly shared very similar information about the attack prior to it being carried out. The breach in security has dragged the administration down for weeks and led to calls especially for the resignation of Hegseth, who shared the attack plans on the text chain, as well as similar condemnation of Waltz for his apparent erroneous inclusion of Goldberg in the messages. President Donald Trump has expressed his support for the two officials. But Rauchet's inclusion in the text chains and continued presence at the Pentagon may in fact be a more significant issue for the administration. The Pentagon has not explained her role at the agency or completed a formal inquiry into whether any of the information shared in the two chains was classified, which Hegseth and others have strongly denied. The agency's inspector general launched an investigation in early April, which has yet to reach a conclusion. A DoD spokeswoman said in response to the Post's reporting: 'Secretary Hegseth has delivered more victories to the DoD in 100 days than most Secretaries have in four years. We are focused on RESULTS.' Critics of the administration say that the case is a clear-cut example of Hegseth and others flouting longstanding Defense Department protocols and possibly violating the law regarding sharing of classified information. 'The most recent revelations about Hegseth's having shared military plans with members of his personal circle demonstrates a brazen disdain for rules and protocols that Americans expect their leaders to follow. It also raises questions about whether Hegseth is prioritizing his own political or media ambitions over the interests of the American people,' the nonprofit watchdog group American Oversight wrote in a statement. Republicans, who currently control both chambers of Congress, are not likely to begin their own investigations of the matter, but Democrats could easily do so if the party retakes control of the House or Senate in the 2026 midterms. A number of former defense officials have said in interviews that at least some of the information shared by Hegseth in the initial Signal chain was likely classified, or should have been. The AP reported that some of the information was pulled by Hegseth from a secure channel used by US CENTCOM. 'It is unheard of to have a secretary of defense committing these kind of serious security breaches,' said former Defense secretary and former CIA director Leon Panetta. 'Developing attack plans for defensive reasons is without question the most classified information you can have.'
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pete Hegseth's wife receives a brutal nickname from Pentagon staff amid Signal chat leak scandal
Pete Hegseth's wife faces heat Live Events 'Human leash' (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Employees at the Pentagon have reportedly given Jennifer Rauchet , the wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth , a brutal nickname. According to Daily Mail, the Defense Department staff have their own nickname for their boss's wife: 'Yoko Ono' and this is because she is frequently seen with her husband while he attempts to push US President Donald Trump's was reported by the Daily Mail that several of her employees have taken to calling her "Yoko Ono" behind her Rauchet Hegseth has recently found herself under scrutiny over her informal involvement in her embattled husband's job overseeing the nearly three million-strong United States name comes as Rauchet's frequent appearances at the Pentagon have drawn criticism from several staffers after the Wall Street Journal reported that she attended sensitive meetings, including one with his British counterpart, John Healey. It was also reported by two sources that Rauchet attended a meeting between her husband and his foreign counterparts at the NATO headquarters in wife is causing concern among federal officials for her reportedly near-constant presence with her husband as he deals with sensitive military plans and has inappropriately brought her along to meetings with lawmakers and at least one foreign official, according to CNN. Ruachet has applied for security clearance, but the White House has refused to say if it was granted, CNN also raised eyebrows last month for tagging along with her husband on two meetings with high-level foreign defense officials, as the Wall Street Journal first person within the DoD told The Mail that Hegseth allegedly relies on Rauchet to prepare and supervise him, just like she did when they both worked at Fox News. The source also added that Rauchet's presence could help Hegseth's sobriety in check, as well as make sure his eyes don't said Rauchet has attended meetings during which she has been seen taking notes and photos. On days when she is not physically accompanying her husband, one said she is apprised of details about his on at least one occasion, the other added, she has urged the DoD's public relations team to include more about his military service and family values in news releases. "I'm sure she's worried about his infidelity and drinking, but she's also involved in the shaping of his public image,' one source said."She's like his parole officer and PR agent all at once."The other likened Rauchet to Yoko Ono, the wife of late Beatles star John Lennon, known for being fiercely protective and controlling of the narrative around her husband. "She is a human leash," the insider need to control the Defense Secretary's image is not something new. Hegseth's first marriage to Meredith Schwarz ended when she claimed that he had serially cheated on her with several others, including Samantha Deering, the woman he married soon after and with whom he had three ended her marriage with Hegseth when he hooked up with Rauchet, a producer on Fox & Friends, who was also married with three kids. Rauchet revealed that she was pregnant with Hegseth's child shortly after the then-anchor had been promoted to after the birth of their daughter, Gwen, Hegseth was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman while attending a Republican women's conference in 2024. A California police report shows that his accuser was having champagne with co-workers when things got "fuzzy." The woman reported that she later somehow found herself in a room with saying that the entire encounter was consensual, Hegseth ended up paying the woman $5,000. Rather than fight her allegations in court. Rauchet was once again blasted to the forefront of people's minds this past week when it was revealed that she and Hegseth's brother had been part of a second Signal Group chat that received plans about an attack on the Houthies in reportedly relayed information from Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who leads U.S. Central Command. According to NBC, the material sent by Kurilla allegedly contained details about when U.S. fighters would take off and when they would hit their the military information have fallen into the enemy's hands, it could have put the fighters and their pilots in considerable danger. Three U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the exchanges told the news outlet that Hegseth allegedly used his personal phone to send the information transmitted by Kurilla to at least two group chats using the Signal app.
Irish Daily Star
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Star
Brutal nickname Pentagon insiders use for Pete Hegseth's wife Jennifer Rauchet revealed
Employees at the Pentagon have reported given Jennifer Rauchet, the wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth , a brutal nickname after frequently being seen with her husband while he attempts to push U.S. President Donald Trump's agenda. It was reported by the Daily Mail that several of her employees have taken to calling her "Yoko Ono" behind her back. The name comes as Rauchet's frequent appearances at the Pentagon have drawn criticism from several staffers after the Wall Street Journal reported that she attended sensitive meetings, including one with his British counterpart, John Healey. It was also reported by two sources that Rauchet attended a meeting between her husband and his foreign counterparts at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. One person within the DoD told The Mail that Hegseth allegedly relies on Rauchet to prepare and supervise him, just like she did when they both worked at Fox News. The source also added that Rauchet's presence could help Hegseth's sobriety in check, as well as make sure his eyes don't wander. Read More Related Articles 'Hideous' Trump hangs new self-portrait in White House next to his greatest political rival Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'disgusting' as he honors Pope Francis in 'baffling' way Both sources also confirmed that during the meetings, Rauchet was spotted taking notes and photos. It was also reported that on the days that she is not physically present in the agency, there is someone apprising her of her husband's schedule. According to one staffer, on at least one occasion, Rauchet has urged the Department of Defense's public relations team to include more about his military service and family values in news releases. "I'm sure she's worried about his infidelity and drinking, but she's also involved in the shaping of his public image," one person said. "She's like his parole officer and PR agent all at once." Another staffer likened her to Yoko Ono, the wife of the late Beatles singer John Lennon, who was known for being fiercely protective and controlling of the narrative around her husband. One staffer equated her to being a "human leash" for Hegseth. The need to control the Defense Secretary's image is not something new. Hegseth's first marriage to Meredith Schwarz ended when she claimed that he had serially cheated on her with several others, including Samantha Deering, the woman he married soon after and with whom he had three children. Deering ended her marriage with Hegseth when he hooked up with Rauchet, a producer on Fox & Friends, who was also married with three kids. Rauchet revealed that she was pregnant with Hegseth's child shortly after the then-anchor had been promoted to co-host. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, Gwen, Hegseth was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman while attending a Republican women's conference in 2024. A California police report shows that his accuser was having champagne with co-workers when things got "fuzzy." The woman reported that she later somehow found herself in a room with Hegseth. Despite saying that the entire encounter was consensual, Hegseth ended up paying the woman $5,000. Rather than fight her allegations in court. Rauchet was once again blasted to the forefront of people's minds this past week when it was revealed that she and Hegseth's brother had been part of a second Signal Group chat that received plans about an attack on the Houthies in Yemen. Hegseth reportedly relayed information from Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who leads U.S. Central Command . According to NBC, the material sent by Kurilla allegedly contained details about when U.S. fighters would take off and when they would hit their targets. Should the military information have fallen into the enemy's hands, it could have put the fighters and their pilots in considerable danger. Three U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the exchanges told the news outlet that Hegseth allegedly used his personal phone to send the information transmitted by Kurilla to at least two group chats using the Signal app .
