Republican Senators James Lankford and Roger Wicker have called for an investigation into a Signal group chat where White House national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussed sensitive military information with a journalist present. The inquiry will focus on how a reporter gained access to the chat and the appropriateness of using an unencrypted app for sensitive communication. While some Republicans have joined Democrats in demanding resignations, Lankford believes calls for Hegseth’s resignation are excessive. The incident involves potentially classified details about a planned Yemen attack.
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A significant majority of Americans view the leak of US attack plans for Yemen via a Signal group chat as a serious matter, with 53% deeming it “very serious,” despite the Trump administration’s attempts to downplay the incident. This surpasses public concern over previous controversies like Hillary Clinton’s email server and Trump’s retention of classified documents. The leak, involving sensitive intelligence shared with Israel, sparked bipartisan unease, even among some Republicans, despite claims the information was unclassified and the mission successful. The White House acknowledged the mistake and pledged to prevent recurrence.
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In a lawsuit filed by American Oversight, the Trump administration is accused of using a Signal group chat, including cabinet members and Vice President Vance, to discuss a potential Yemen attack. The administration denies discussing classified information, attributing the incident to a low-level employee. Judge Boasberg, previously involved in legal battles with Trump, will now oversee discovery in this case. Trump’s past social media attacks against Judge Boasberg suggest strong negative feelings towards the judge’s involvement.
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Published Signal messages reveal a minute-by-minute account of a Yemen operation, shared by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with a group including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Vice President JD Vance, approximately two hours before the attack. The messages detail target locations, weapon systems, and attack timelines, raising concerns about potential security breaches given the pre-attack dissemination of sensitive operational information. Despite White House denials, The Atlantic published the messages, which ultimately led to 53 civilian casualties. The incident prompted investigations into how a journalist gained access to the private chat and highlighted concerns about the use of Signal for sensitive communications within the government.
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The Trump administration’s accidental inclusion of *The Atlantic*’s editor in a Signal chat containing details of a Yemen attack has prompted a debate over the release of the messages. Despite denials from administration officials that classified information was shared, *The Atlantic* argues the public interest demands disclosure given the sensitive operational details and the potential national security risks involved. The messages reveal real-time updates on the attack, including launch times and target confirmation, highlighting the serious implications of using unsecured channels for such sensitive military communications. *The Atlantic* has decided to publish the unredacted texts, with the exception of a CIA officer’s name, after receiving objections from the White House and CIA.
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John Q. Hosedrinker