The Minister of Defense of USAPitt Hegsheth, faces serious pressure after leaking secret military plans to bombard their Houthi In Yemen through the Signal application, which raises concerns about a possible violation of national security protocols.
The incident came to light after a report by The Atlantic, With editor -in -chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealing that he was accidentally added to group chatwhere the operational objectives and timetable of the US attack on Houthi in Yemen were discussed.
US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Waltsstated that he undertakes ‘Fully responsibility’ For the group conversation of senior government officials, which accidentally included a journalist and leaked extremely sensitive information about the planned air raids in Yemen.
As the Guardianit seems that Walts invited Goldberg to the group conversation. The distinguished journalist remained unnoticed as the members of the President’s cabinet were discussing politics and coordinating a wave of bomb attacks in an excellent violation that critics said he had jeopardized national security.
“It’s shameful, yes. We will find the edge ‘, Walts said, adding that he is consulting Ilon Musk: “We have the best minds that are considering how this happened.” Asked about the “who is responsible” for the addition of Goldberg to the group discussion at Signal, Walts replied: “An employee was not responsible. I fully take responsibility. I created the team. My job is to ensure that everything is tuned. “
When a Fox presenter asked how Goldberg’s number ended up in the team, Walts replied: “Have you ever had the contact of someone who shows his name and then you have someone else’s number there? … Of course I didn’t see the failed in the team. It looked like someone else. Whether he did it deliberately or happened by another technical medium is something we are trying to understand. “
Walts did not produce any evidence of how Goldberg could have ended up “intentionally” in the team.
Earlier in the interview, he said that he did not know Goldberg or exchanged messages with him, calling him “the lower scoring of journalists”, while criticizing the media focusing on the controversy
Will Hegshez give up?
Defense Minister Pitt Hegshez, on a trip to Hawaii, denied that he exchanged war plans and personally attacked Goldberg, describing him as “unreliable” and “liar”.
However, the White House has already confirmed the authenticity of the conversation, which is said to be started by National Security Councilor Mike Walts – who accidentally invited the journalist to the debate.
The case triggered reactions to Congress, with Democratic and Republican to ask for explanations, research, and even Resignation of Hegschez.
According to experts and former security officials, the use of the Signal application – although encrypted – does not meet the specifications for the exchange of graded information, even when it comes to “sensitive but unregulated” information (SBU).
“If this incident was presented in a seminar on business security, the public would laugh at the incredible naivety,” a former senior official commented on anonymity, according to the Washington Post.
The Minister of Defense and his team members have access to Safe Communication Places (SCIF) Even during travel – which makes it unjustified to use open digital channels for military design.
MP Ruben Galego, a former mariner, told CNN that if he had done something similar to an active service, he would have been taken to the military court, while describing Hegschez as “inadequate and dangerous”. “This is a mistake that under any other government would lead the Minister of Defense to resign. … What does this say to our allies? What does our enemies say? “
For his part, MP Seth Moulton referred to controversial past of the Minister, which includes complaint about sexual harassment And problems with alcohol, evidence that had caused a strong confrontation with the Senate during his approval – where Vice President Kamala Harris vote was decisive.
But also Republicans such as Senator Roger Wyker and former Air Force General Don Bacon said the incident should be investigated, noting that Russia and China They may have been watching the content of the conversation.
President Donald Trump has chosen not to comment on Hegschez, but calling Goldberg “a cluster” and declaring support to Walts saying it is “Good man and that he got his lesson.” His silence for the Minister of Defense, however, was considered indicative of the seriousness of the case.
The Director of National Information of Tulle Gabard told the Senate that no classified data were broadcast, but avoided answering whether the content was such that it should have been graded. CIA Director John Ratclifh confirmed his involvement in the conversation, but said he did not know if Hegschez had declassified the material.
The incident dominated the Senate Intelligence Committee, and a formal bipartisan investigation into exactly what was said, who knew it and whether there was a violation of state confidentiality.
In any case, the case puts the Trump government in a difficult position, which is called upon to explain a serious possible negligence by the Minister of Defense, the US national responsible for the US.
Information from Washington Post