Pentagon Inspector General Determines Pete Hegseth Put Sensitive Information at Risk, Potentially Endangering Troops

CNN has revealed details from a Pentagon Inspector General (IG) report examining Pete Hegseths use of Signal messaging early in his tenure at the Department of Defense. The report scrutinizes messages sent in a group chat that included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg and Hegseths spouse, among others, in which U.S. bombing operations in Yemen were discussed.

During her Wednesday broadcast, anchor Dana Bash introduced the story, highlighting that Zach Cohen had the latest updates. Cohen explained that the report remains classified and has not been made public. Sources indicate that the IG concluded Hegseth risked exposing sensitive military information, potentially endangering U.S. forces and compromising operational objectives, by sharing details about an ongoing mission against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The messages came to light after Goldberg was accidentally added to the Signal group chat. Some messages contained highly specific operational details, including the precise timing of bombings. The IG investigation, which has been ongoing since April, confirmed that Hegseth should not have used Signal to convey such classified information, echoing concerns previously raised by current and former officials.

The report also noted that there was no record showing Hegseth had declassified the information before sending it. The documents in question were officially marked as classified at the time. Additionally, Hegseth declined to participate in a face-to-face interview with the IG, opting instead to provide written responses.

This IG review provides a comprehensive assessment, based on meticulous fact-finding and documentation, of Hegseths communications via Signal and their potential consequences, reinforcing the concerns raised over the past several months.

Author: Ava Mitchell