Intelligence chiefs insist Signal chat was a simple mistake – CyberScoop
U.S. intelligence leaders found themselves under intensified scrutiny from Congress for a second straight day, following revelations that significant military plans were discussed over text messaging application Signal.
Both Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe apologized during a House Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday, yet continued to claim that no sources, methods, locations or war plans were shared in the chat.
“This was a standard update to the national security Cabinet that was provided alongside updates that were given to foreign partners in the region,” Gabbard said. “Ideally, these conversations occur in person. However, at times, fast-moving coordination of an unclassified nature is necessary where in-person conversation is not an option.”
The controversy consumed what was initially expected to be a routine hearing addressing worldwide threats. Instead, the session was largely overtaken by questions surrounding the veracity of prior testimonies given by Gabbard and Ratcliffe, who, alongside several senior officials, were participants in a Signal chat that also contained the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
Fresh transcripts released by The Atlantic Wednesday showed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosing specific operational timelines and weaponry — including F-18 fighters and Tomahawk missiles — in the chat, directly contradicting testimony and comments to the press made earlier this week. The disclosure led to an uproar among Democrats, who cited potential breaches of national security protocol and escalations in calls for resignations.
Ranking member Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., confronted Gabbard with inconsistencies between her sworn declarations before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday and the messages published in the Atlantic. Himes underscored that the guidelines dictate such strategic details to be classified as “top secret.”
“It’s your testimony that less than two weeks ago, you were on a Signal chat that had all of this information about F-18 and MQ-9 Reapers and targets on strike, and you, in that two-week period, simply forgot that that was there? That’s your testimony?” Hines asked Gabbard.
“My testimony is I did not recall the exact details of what was included there,” Gabbard responded.
Calls for accountability grew with House members questioning the practicalities and responsibilities surrounding information security. Several called on Hegseth to resign.
“It is completely outrageous to me that administration officials come before us today with impunity, no acceptance or responsibility,” said Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. “Excuse after excuse after excuse. Will we send our men and women down range to do incredibly difficult, incredibly dangerous things on our behalf, and yet nobody is willing to come to us and say, ‘this was wrong, this was a breach of security, and we won’t do it again.’ It is outrageous, and it is a leadership failure.”
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., also chastised what she described as a lack of leadership from the top level of the president’s Cabinet.
“I would argue that if Secretary Hegseth, if he had the dignity that he needs to have, should be walking his resignation in, because I believe that he probably is heading toward being relieved of his duty, based on what I think are significant and illegal leaks,” Houlahan said.
She also called for Gabbard to investigate the possibility of Signal’s use with regard to classified communications.
“I would like it if you would also investigate what is likely to be more than just this chat, because if there’s one, there’s more than one,” she told Gabbard. “If there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
Gabbard appeared to agree with that sentiment in her opening remarks, pointing out that the government had recommended Signal’s use following revelations that a Chinese hacking group known as Salt Typhoon had targeted top-level members of the Trump presidential campaign. She also said that the app comes pre-installed on government-issued phones, a claim that runs counter to previous government regulations, including a 2023 memorandum issued by the Department of Defense forbidding the use of messaging apps for “non-public DoD work.”
The only federal agency that had approved use of Signal was the U.S. Agency for International Development. That agency has been heavily dismantled since President Donald Trump took office in January.
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