Signalgate 2.0: After Hegseth’s leaked signal chat, suit the watchdog files to preserve the messages of Trump Officers

A non -profit watchdog group, the American oversite, on Monday expanded a case with the objective of several senior national security officers in the Trump administration, in which a federal judge requested to compulsory the conservation of all the messages sent through the encrypted communications app signal.
The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Washington, DC, and focuses on the official business related messages that have been sent using the signal, there is no clear record-keying system for an app and federal record with an auto-dietary feature.
The revised suit follows a report by the New York Times that reveals that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details about military attacks in Yemen in a private signal group chat on 15 March. The chat, including Hegseth’s wife, brother and personal lawyer, was part of the extensive issue of government officials using signals for official communication.
The suit expands on a pre -version filed by the American oversite, which is in response to the revelation that Hegseth, CIA director John Ratcliffe, and vice -president JD Vance was part of a separate signal chat, where he discussed sensitive matters against Hauthi rebels in Yemen. The lawsuit says that the use of indications by top officials for the official government business is widespread and can violate federal record retention requirements.
The new request by the American Overs asked Judge James Bosebberg, who is overseeing the case, including Negaseth, Ratcliffe, and other officials to preserve messages sent by other officials, including National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant and State Secretary Maro Rubio. At the end of the last month, Boseberg had already ordered the protection of messages from “Houthi PC Small Group Chat”, where officials discussed the Yemen strike.
The use of Hageth’s signal for these communications further expressed concern when it was discovered that a second chat – “Defense ‘Team Hardal” – a single Yemen strike description included and included 13 persons, including Hegseth’s family members and other individual colleagues. The group was not authorized to use the signal for sensitive or classified information, which questioned the government communication for sensitive or classified information. Was.
In response, the White House and Pentagon dismissed concerns, accusing the former employees of spreading false information. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly argued that the chat was “shared no classified information” and claimed that the disgruntled pre-employees were trying to weaken the administration.
President Donald Trump publicly defended Hegseth, called any concern on his actions “waste of time”. Speaking on the South Lawn after the Easter Egg Roll, Trump expressed confidence in dealing with Hegseth’s military operations. “He is doing a great job – ask Hauthis how he is doing,” Trump commented, the Yemen rebelly targeted in the attack, referring to the rebel group.
Trump’s support for Hegseth’s support is part of the broad pattern of standing by its top officials. Sources close to the President have stated that Trump is firm to oppose any pressure to dismiss Hegseth, emphasizing that he does not want to provide satisfaction to “fake news” outlets by firing an important person in his administration.