Signalgate even more extensive than it was at first

Use Encrypted Applications for Communication Signal by US Defense Minister Fifth Hegsetha It was more extensive for official matters than has been known so far, reports the newspaper Wall Street Journal. The Minister is supposed to have open « at least a dozen separate chats » on this commercially accessible application, representing the latest development in the affair, which the media also calls « signalgate »after it came on the day, that Hegseth shared sensitive information through a signal.

According to the sources familiar with the minister’s management, the Hegset App used the application to discuss travel, his schedule and other distrustful but sensitive information. In one case, she is expected to even order her assistants through a signal to inform foreign government officials of the ongoing military operation. Reports show that Hegseth created many of these chatting groups himself and sent messages both via unsecured line in Pentagon and from his personal phone, with a signal to have a Pentagon’s official communication channels, adds Independent.

Starting scandal: Journalist mistakenly chatting about military plans

The affair broke out at the end of March when it is Jeffrey Goldbergeditor -editor of the magazine Atlanticpublished an article revealing that it was accidentally added to the chat room on the signal. In this group are Hegset, then National Security Advisor at the time Mike WaltzVice President JD VanceSecretary of State Marco RubioCII Director John Ratcliffedirector of national intelligence services Tulsi Gabbard and several other senior officials of Trump administration discussed very sensitive plans for military attack on Huti targets in Yemen, he said Newsweek. Goldberg also posted screenshots that revealed details of specific goals, attack time, weapons used and accurate sequence of the attack before it was performed.

At the time, Hegseth denied sharing confidential information, saying that « no one sent war plans. » He labeled Goldberg as « false and heavily discredited. » In the record on Network X, Hegset stated that the so -called « war plans » contained « neither names, goals, locations, units, no routes, no resources, methods, nor methods or confidential information. » Nevertheless, the spokesman for the National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the chat group to which Goldberg is expected to be added. A White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt However, 31, in March, told reporters that « the case was completed … as far as we are concerned » and that measures were taken so that something like this is not repeated.

Another disclosure and expansion of the investigation

The affair continued in April when the newspaper New York Times reported that on the same day, when the controversial chat with Goldberg was controversial, he shared detailed information about the attacks in Yemno in another, a private chat group on the signal. This group was reportedly Forbes About a dozen people, including his wife, brother and personal lawyer. He did not deny this second chat, but said he shared only « informal, distrustful reconciliation information. » According to Independent He was supposed to have access to the Hegshet phone and the messages in this second group were provided by his military assistant, Colonel Marines Ricky Buria.

Because of these revelations, the Ministry of Defense General is the United States Defense Inspector Steve Stebbinswho, on April 3, at the request of the leading members of the Senate Committee on Armed Forces, launched an investigation into Hegset’s use of the signal, on May 1. They are now investigating allegedly sending military plans in this second chat group.

Hegseth is supposed to have open « at least a dozen separate chats » on this commercially available application, which is the latest development in the affair, which is also called « Signalgate » after it came to the day that Hegset shared sensitive information through the signal. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/AFP

The scandal also had personnel consequences. Day Caldwellthe key Hegset’s advisor, who was listed in the Goldberg chat, was suspended on 15 April due to « unauthorized disclosure of information. » A few days later, two other Pentagon staff were suspended, Darin Selnick and Colin Carrollwho later stated that they had not explained the reasons for the suspension, reported Forbes. John Ullyota former main spokesman for Pentagon, is 20 April in an opinion contribution for Politics He wrote that there was a « perfect chaos » in Pentagon and that « the ministry under the Hegset leadership is in the rise. »

In addition, the agency Ap At the end of April, he reported that Hegset had installed an unsecured internet connection in his office to use a signal on a personal computer. The pentagon said at the time that the Hegset signal had never been used on a government computer.

Chairman Donald Trump He stood by Hegset all the time, labeling the signal reports as « wasting time » and saying that Hegset « does a great job ». After the first Goldberg’s disclosure, Trump even hinted that the problem in the app could be a signal, saying that it could be a « defective platform ». Finally on Sunday for Nbc Said that Hegseth’s job was « completely safe ».

President Donald Trump has always stood by Hegset. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Nevertheless, critics have emerged. Republican congress Don Bacon was called to Hegset’s weaning after disclosing the second chat, for Politics He said such behavior was « completely unacceptable ». Security experts such as a former high -speed US intelligence Marc Polymeropoulosthey are for Wall Street Journal emphasized that the use of personal phones and commercial applications for official matters brings unnecessary risks, since « for some reason, the signal is considered to be distributed by the government. » Independent It recalls that in 2023, Pentagon warned in an internal memorandum before using NGOs for official transactions, unless they are absolutely necessary for the implementation of the mission and have been obtained for them.

Hegseth, a former television presenter Fox News and the military veteran, as a defense minister, swore 25. In January, after a difficult confirmation in the Senate, where his appointment was required by the decisive voice of Vice -President Vanco, as three Republicans voted against him for concerns about past allegations of inappropriate behavior denied by Hegseth. Meanwhile, Mike Waltz, who created a controversial chat room with Goldberg, was recently dismissed as a national security advisor and named Trump’s candidate for the United Nations. Investigation of the inspector General of Hegset’s use of the signal, meanwhile, continues.