US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had a consumer message app signal installed on a computer in his office in Pentagon, so that he could send and receive quick messages at a place where individual cellphones are not allowed, according to two people with knowledge of the case.
Hegseth’s move provided easy communication facilities in a building, where cell service is poor and individual phones are not allowed in some areas. The Defense Secretary has two computers in his office, one for personal use and one has been released by a government. Cables were installed near Hegseth in early March so that it could connect a personal computer to the signal. His confidential assistant and Ricky Buria, Junior Military Associate, had the same signal capacity, the person said.
After the latest revelation, NYT reported that Hegseth shared a highly sensitive and detailed attack plans in a signal chat group, which included his wife, his brother and his personal counsel before the commencement of a mission against the Hothi goals in Yemen on 15 March.
He had essentially shared the same details in a group chat with top national security officers, which was even shortly before the strike. The fact of that conversation became public when Atlantic reported that its editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently involved in the group chat. Trump administration officer It was suggested that Hegseth had no issue with the use of signal in his office.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, “The secretary of protecting communication systems and channels is classified.” “However, we can confirm that the secretary has never used and currently does not use signals on its government’s computer.” White House press secretary Karolin Lewitt called it “another nonsstory”, given that signal is an app approved for the use of the government. The Pentagon Acting Inspector General said earlier this month that he would review the revelations of Hegseth’s Yemen strike on the signal. Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican who presided over the Armed Service Committee, and the committee’s senior democrats, Senator Jack Reid requested a review. The senators asked the Inspector General if Hegseth shared sensitive or classified information in the group chat. Details about the strike sent by Hegseth came through a safe government from the US Central Command, designed to transmit classified information.
In the last month, Hegseth has also seen the disintegration of his internal circle of his close advisors – military veterans, who had very little experience of running them, big, complex organizations like him. Three members of the team were accused of leaking unauthorized information, and survived the building.
President Trump and White House official stood by Hegseth. But Hegseth on Tuesday morning booked himself for a Fox News interview and also harassed the WH officials, during which he accused the advisors of making stories about them. WH officials have told them that they want them to be under control with their employees.
