Investigators looking at who sent Hegseth’s Signal texts, whether they were told to delete them, sources say
Pentagon investigators are currently conducting a thorough probe to determine whether Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally authored the text messages outlining the military’s plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen, or if the details were typed out by other staff members. This investigation, led by the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General, has involved interviews with both current and former members of Hegseth’s staff in an effort to uncover how classified strike details ended up being shared on a commercial messaging app called Signal.
According to ABC News, DOD IG spokesperson Mollie Halperin emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the investigative process by not disclosing specific details or the scope of the ongoing inquiry. The text messages containing strike details were reportedly shared in two separate chat groups – one consisting of Vice President JD Vance and other high-ranking officials, and another including Hegseth’s wife, who is not a government employee.
It remains uncertain when the findings of the investigation will be made public. Hegseth is expected to testify as defense secretary for the first time on Tuesday, during which Democratic lawmakers are likely to question him about his handling of classified and sensitive information. The sharing of strike details coincided with a similar incident in mid-March when members of President Donald Trump’s National Security Council, including Hegseth, inadvertently shared information about a missile strike in Yemen with The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief.
The investigation is also exploring whether the shared information was classified and who was responsible for its dissemination. Additionally, investigators are looking into whether any staff members were instructed to delete messages by Hegseth or others. Federal law mandates that government communications be retained as official records, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing probe.
As the investigation unfolds, the Pentagon is committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability and transparency in order to safeguard sensitive national security information. The outcome of this inquiry will likely have far-reaching implications for how classified information is handled within the Department of Defense and underscores the importance of maintaining strict protocols for the protection of sensitive data.
