Two hours ago, reports emerged detailing a momentous security breach where a journalist gained access to a Signal chat that included high-ranking national security officials discussing plans for airstrikes in Yemen. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe downplayed the situation during a Senate hearing, denying that classified information had been shared. This denial sparked scorn from Senate Democrats who deemed the conduct “sloppy” and an affront to U.S. national security.
The journalist was mistakenly added to the chat previously run by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who has faced criticism for the breach. Among the sensitive discussions, the chat detailed an operation that resulted in the deaths of 53 individuals in Yemen aimed at Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels. The revelation has led to lawsuits and calls for an investigation, with various lawmakers demanding transparency.
Senator Lindsey Graham remarked on the incident, indicating that it could have been much worse, while Senate Democrats condemned the incident as an embarrassment. Questions are swirling around how such critical matters were discussed on a civilian app with potential vulnerabilities, with some experts highlighting the breach as a serious operational failure.
Furthermore, the situation has raised concerns about the app itself, with the NSA recently warning employees of vulnerabilities in the platform, and critics are demanding accountability from those involved. A non-partisan watchdog group has filed a lawsuit against the officials for purportedly violating federal record-keeping laws due to the app's self-destructive message feature.
As the fallout continues, President Trump dismissed the controversy as an attempt to distract from the administration's achievements, reiterating that the addition of the journalist was a mere glitch without operational impact. The National Security team has since stated they are reviewing the matter further, aiming to uncover the root of the leak and prevent future occurrences.
The journalist was mistakenly added to the chat previously run by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who has faced criticism for the breach. Among the sensitive discussions, the chat detailed an operation that resulted in the deaths of 53 individuals in Yemen aimed at Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels. The revelation has led to lawsuits and calls for an investigation, with various lawmakers demanding transparency.
Senator Lindsey Graham remarked on the incident, indicating that it could have been much worse, while Senate Democrats condemned the incident as an embarrassment. Questions are swirling around how such critical matters were discussed on a civilian app with potential vulnerabilities, with some experts highlighting the breach as a serious operational failure.
Furthermore, the situation has raised concerns about the app itself, with the NSA recently warning employees of vulnerabilities in the platform, and critics are demanding accountability from those involved. A non-partisan watchdog group has filed a lawsuit against the officials for purportedly violating federal record-keeping laws due to the app's self-destructive message feature.
As the fallout continues, President Trump dismissed the controversy as an attempt to distract from the administration's achievements, reiterating that the addition of the journalist was a mere glitch without operational impact. The National Security team has since stated they are reviewing the matter further, aiming to uncover the root of the leak and prevent future occurrences.
