The White House continues to assert that no classified material was disclosed in private group chats involving U.S. officials, but growing concerns among Democrats are now fueling calls for the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth is at the center of controversy after being linked to a second Signal group chat that reportedly discussed sensitive military operations. According to multiple reports, he shared information regarding a planned U.S. airstrike on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in March. The chat allegedly included his wife Jennifer, his brother, and his personal lawyer — raising serious questions about national security protocols.
The New York Times first reported the existence of the second chat group, with Reuters and NBC News later confirming that it consisted of approximately 13 individuals. The group reportedly exchanged details such as the timing and targets of the Yemen airstrikes, information that is typically considered highly sensitive. Sources told NBC News that despite being warned by an aide not to use insecure messaging platforms like Signal, Hegseth went ahead and shared classified operational data.
Jennifer Hegseth, a former Fox News producer, has reportedly participated in meetings with foreign military officials. Meanwhile, Hegseth's brother was appointed to a senior advisory position at the Pentagon, serving as a liaison with the Department of Homeland Security. These personal connections within sensitive government circles have only added to the concerns surrounding the leaks.
This is not the first time Hegseth has come under scrutiny for handling sensitive information. The initial alarm was raised when a journalist from The Atlantic was inadvertently added to a previous Signal group chat by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. That group also contained military planning information, and some of the details were eventually made public. Hegseth, according to sources, had passed that sensitive material on to other cabinet officials.
Although the administration has so far stood behind Hegseth, stating that there is no evidence that officially classified information was disclosed, Democrats in Congress are demanding accountability. Several have stated that even if the information shared was not formally classified, its nature and the method of transmission represented a serious breach of judgment and protocol.
Lawmakers are also pressing for an independent investigation to determine whether Hegseth’s actions endangered military personnel or compromised ongoing operations. Critics argue that his willingness to include family members and a personal attorney in high-level operational discussions demonstrates a reckless disregard for the strict confidentiality expected of the role.
As pressure mounts, the situation is becoming a political liability for the administration, with calls growing louder for Hegseth’s removal. While the White House maintains there was no breach of classified protocols, the broader implications of sharing sensitive information via unsecured channels continue to raise alarms throughout Washington.
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