🔗 Share this article Pentagon Investigation Concludes Defense Secretary Put Troops in Jeopardy with Signal Conversation. A highly anticipated Department of Defense report has concluded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth breached official protocols by disclosing classified intelligence in a Signal messaging chat, as stated by a source familiar with the report. Particulars of the Incident The online conversation in dispute contained details about a scheduled air attack in Yemen targeting Houthi militants. This chat came to light after a reporter for the Atlantic was added as a member. Other individuals in the chat reportedly included JD Vance, CIA director John Ratcliffe, and former security advisor Mike Waltz. The report focused solely on the actions of Hegseth, as the other officials do not work at the Pentagon. Signal is a publicly available communication application that was not authorized for handling sensitive material. Potential Threat to Forces The internal investigation determined that the intelligence shared by Hegseth was secret and could have endangered the lives of US troops if it had been intercepted by a foreign enemy force. Notably, the report acknowledged that Hegseth possessed the authority to downgrade the material he distributed, though it was not specified whether he formally did so. Secretary's Reaction The informed individual indicated that Hegseth declined an interview by the inspector general. Instead, he submitted a short written response. In his response, Hegseth asserted he only disclosed details that would not have endangered personnel or jeopardized the operation. He further stated that he possessed the authority to declassify material and viewed the investigation to be politically motivated. Future Actions The finalized investigation has been provided to Congress. An publicly releasable copy is expected to be made public in the coming days.