Washington, April 21 (HS): There is turmoil at the Pentagon following the ‘Signal Chat Leak Incident’ involving U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. During the investigation into the ‘Signal Chat Leak Incident’, several top officials at the Pentagon have been suspended, including aides to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to Reports, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information about attacks in a second Signal chat. The Secretary had sent sensitive information about attacks in Yemen in an encrypted group chat that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer.
On March 15, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed information in a private Signal group chat about upcoming attacks in Yemen. Four individuals related to the chat have revealed that the information included flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets targeting Houthi forces in Yemen. On the same day, the Secretary shared a separate Signal chat, which was mistakenly sent to an editor at The Atlantic as well.
According to sources, two officials reported that one of the chat groups was created by Hegseth on his personal phone. Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Hegseth, does not work in the Department of Defense. His brother, Phil Hegseth, works as a senior advisor in the Department of Homeland Security and is stationed in the Department of Defense. Hegseth’s personal lawyer, Tim Parlatore, works as a Navy reservist at the Pentagon and has been assigned to Hegseth’s office.
Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell responded to reports of the second chat in a statement on X late Sunday night. He stated that the Trump-hating media is blowing this issue out of proportion. There was no classified information in any Signal chat. It is also true that the Secretary’s office is robustly implementing President Trump’s agenda. Meanwhile, acting Pentagon Inspector General Steven Stabins has informed the Defense Secretary that an investigation has been initiated in this regard.
Additionally, top aides and other members of Pete Hegseth’s team, Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Derin Selnik, have been suspended.
A statement from former top Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, published in Politico on Sunday, has created a stir. He described the chaos that persisted at the Pentagon for a month in his article. He wrote, From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, this disorder has now become a major obstacle for the President. He was the one who reported on the suspension of three officials. Ullyot suggests that considering the circumstances, it will be difficult for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to remain in his position for a long time.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
