The recipients of these messages were not military commanders or cabinet officials but three close associations: His Wife Jennifer (A Formr Fox News Producer with no government roll), His Brother PHAPTER (DEPARTM) Of defense official), and his personal attorney, Tim Parlatore (also a Pentagon Appointee).

The existence of this second group chat, which operated on hegseth’s personal phone, was first reported by The new york times.

This group chat was originally formed during hegseth’s contentious confirmation process as a way for allies to coordinate responses. However, hegsoth continuing the chat even assuming office, sharing sensitive updates in a group that equally expanded to include more than a dozen individuals.

A pattern of recklessness?

This Revelation Follows An Earler Incident Involving a Separate Signal Group in Which Top Trump Administration Officials Discussed Military Operations, Instrikes Against the Houthis. That group was exposed when National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Mistakenly added jeffrey goldberg, the editor of The atlanticto a message chain. The Resulting Fallout LED to Calls for Accountability and An Onongoing Investigation by the Pentagon’s Acting Inspector General.

The White House Insists That No Classified Information was shared in Eather Chat. But the bar for Mishandling National Security Material Doesn Formal Classification, Just Recklessness, Poor Judgment, Or Deliberate Disclosure of sensitive operational details.

Some of the hegseth’s own allies appear to have lost faith. His former press secretary, john ullyot, and three senior defince officials fired last week – Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, in a Joint Statement After. Decision-making. Critics says the leak is just the latest in a series of lapses that suggest hegsath is unfit to run the pentagon.

Political firestorm

The response from lawmakers have been swift and fierce. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schuck Called for hegseth’s removal, say, “We keep learning how pete hegsth put lives at risk. Senator Tammy Duckworth, A Decorated Iraq War Veteran, Said HegSITH “Must Resign in Disgrace.”

HegSeth, for his part, has not apologized. In his first public statement Since the Scandal Broke, He took to Twitter to Attack His critics: “Your agenda is illegals, trans & dei – all of which no longer allowed” at the defense department at the defense department. to the democratic national committney.

Who is pete hegSeth?

HegSeth’s Ascent from Conservative Pundit to Defense Secretary has been accompanied by a trail of controversy. Born in minnesota and educated at princeton, hegseth served in guantánamo bay and iraq before entertaining into conservative activism. He ran two nonprofit advocacy groups, veterans for freedom and concerned veterans for America, but was forced out amid allegations of financial mismanagement and misconuation.

A whistle-flower report reviewed by the new yorker from his time at concerned veterans for America Alleges Frequent intoxication while on the job, and a separate letter by chanting “Kill all muslims” Dumer ‘ Incident while on an official tour.

His nomination as defanse secrete in the trump administration raised questions, espected it hegseth had setled a 2017 sexual assault allegation without allegation with the transition team. He has denied wrongdoing and was never charged, but the nondisclosure itself speaks volumes for his judgment.

By 2017, HegSeth Had Becom a full-time fox news weekend host, a role that cemented his relationship with trump.

Why thisis matters

The leaks Raise Serious Concerns about How Military Operations Are Managed At The Highest Levels and Whaer Partisan Loyalty is being prioritised over compence and secret. The Use of Unsecured Messaging Apps to Coordinate or Leak Sensitive Military Actions Could Compromise National Defense.

For now, an investigation is underway, but hegseth remains in his position. He will be held accountable, or which administration will close ranks to protect one’s most vocalists, remins to be seen.