Senators interrogated intelligence officials about a security breach involving journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a sensitive Signal chat discussing U.S. war plans against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Both Democrats and some Republicans demand an investigation, highlighting risks associated with sharing classified information on commercial applications. Discussions surrounding potential consequences for involved officials are ongoing, while military actions have reportedly continued successfully.

On Tuesday, Senate leaders in Washington posed critical questions to senior intelligence officials regarding a serious security breach involving sensitive war plans communicated through a commercial messaging app. Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to a secure Signal chat, provoking widespread outrage among Democrats and national security analysts.

Goldberg reported that he was mistakenly included in an encrypted group on March 13, known as the “Houthi PC small group,” which discussed U.S. strategies against the Yemen rebel group affecting Red Sea shipping. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the authenticity of the group and assured that the White House is investigating how Goldberg’s contact was added.

Calls for an investigation have surfaced from Democrats, along with some Republicans, due to the classified nature of the information shared on commercial apps, particularly concerning unknown numbers like Goldberg’s. Senator Mark Warner criticized the administration for being “fast and loose” with classified material, emphasizing the potential risks posed to national security.

During the committee’s annual Worldwide Threats to U.S. Security hearing, Senators planned to question Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe regarding the breach. Senator Tom Cotton, the Republican chairman, anticipated the discussion would arise and aimed to redirect focus toward the administration’s military actions against the rebels, backed by Iran.

Representative Jim Himes, leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, also expressed intentions to address the matter in their forthcoming threats hearing. Although some Democrats demanded consequences for officials involved, there has been no official indication of repercussions as of yet.

The White House and select Republicans emphasized that military strikes against the Houthis commenced successfully on March 15, following their attacks on shipping routes. Prior to these strikes, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly shared operational details regarding targets and strategies within the compromised messaging group, which Goldberg termed a “shockingly reckless” usage of Signal.

Participants in the chat allegedly included high-profile officials, and the White House has since stated it is investigating the situation. The White House press secretary criticized Goldberg’s reporting, labeling it as sensationalist while defending President Trump’s leadership regarding military operations.

The incident involving an intelligence breach via a commercial messaging app has raised significant concerns among legislators and national security experts. The unauthorized presence of journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a sensitive chat group has prompted calls for accountability and investigation into the security practices of the Trump administration. While military operations against Yemeni rebels have reportedly proceeded without issues, the need for stringent adherence to security protocols remains paramount to ensure the safety of classified information.

Original Source: www.ksl.com

Related posts:

Senate Inquiry into Trump’s Team Amid Yemen War Security Breach Trump Supports National Security Adviser Amid Security Breach Concerns Pete Hegseth Refutes Claims of Shared Yemen War Plans in Group Chat Democrats Challenge Trump Administration Over Yemen War Plans Security Breach