Trump administration official privately communicated with a journalist, discussing classified details about proposed Yemen military operations.
Rewritten Article:
Top US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, found themselves in hot water as revelations surfaced about their not-so-secret discussions on a private messaging app regarding US military operations in Yemen.
The Atlantic magazine reported an incident where these high-ranking officials, along with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, shared sensitive and likely classified details about US military strikes in Yemen, all on the encrypted messaging app Signal. A reporter was accidentally added to the conversation, adding a whole new level of chaos to an already delicate situation.
The Trump administration confirmed the authenticity of the messages but remained unresponsive about the odd circumstances surrounding these national defense discussions. Senior officials were apparently discussing military operations outside of the approved classified government systems, something that is a significant concern for former national security officials.
The conversations, apparently led by Waltz, centered around a planned attack on Houthi militants in Yemen, who were posing a threat to international shipping in the Red Sea. The group apparently congratulated themselves on a job well done after the attack was carried out. However, the presence of an outsider in the conversation raised eyebrows and led to a wave of shock and horror from former senior US officials.
"Jesus H. Christ," said one former official, echoing the sentiments of many. Another official flatly denied any similar incidents occurring during the Biden administration.
Signal is popular among journalists, government officials, and even the current administration. However, using the app to discuss military operations is a significant risk, according to former officials. The use of Signal to transmit military secrets is something none of them could recall happening before. Although the app is open-source, making it vulnerable to scrutiny and boosting its trust factor, state-backed hackers have shown interest in finding a way into Signal chats, leaving its security a questionable area.
A report from Google-owned security firm Mandiant last month revealed Russian-linked spies attempting to break into the Signal accounts of Ukrainian military personnel, posing as trusted contacts, further highlighting the potential risks associated with this app.
A mistake that – under other circumstances – would not go unpunished
Using a private messaging app to share highly classified information and accidentally including a reporter in the discussion raises concerns about violations of federal laws such as the Espionage Act. This law makes it a crime to mishandle national defense information – a charge Trump's Justice Department used in its prosecution of him for hoarding classified documents in unauthorized locations, like a bathroom at Mar-a-Lago, after leaving his first term.
Typically, a mistake like this would prompt an investigation by the FBI and the Justice Department's national security division. However, the top Trump administration officials involved in the Signal chat would be the ones responsible for initiating such an investigation, making it an unlikely event.
The Justice Department usually relies on receiving a crime report from the originating agency of the national defense information – in this case, the Defense Department. The senior officials in the discussion also have original classification authority, meaning they can downgrade the classification status of the information.
However, if lower-level government officials made a similar mistake, there would undoubtedly be consequences, including possible loss of their security clearances, according to current and former officials. Pentagon regulations explicitly state that messaging apps, including Signal, "are NOT authorized to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information."
Trump claimed ignorance about the incident. "I don't know anything about it," he told reporters when asked about the Atlantic's report. "The attack was very effective – I don't know anything about it," he added.
Despite the concerns and potential legal implications, it seems that the focus is not on the use of Signal at all, but rather the details of the military operation and its potential impact. The ongoing success of the Yemen operation suggests that there were no threats to troops or national security, according to the National Security Council.
Former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta criticized the blunder, stating, "Someone needs to get fired. How the name of a journalist was added to that list – this is just a serious blunder. If it had been someone else, they could reveal this information immediately to the Houthis in Yemen that they were about to be attacked, and in turn, they could have attacked US facilities in the Red Sea, causing casualties to our troops."
Sources:[1] The Atlantic - Top members of Trump's Cabinet used Signal chat to discuss military strikes on Yemen[2] ESPIONAGE ACT - 18 USC § 793, 1917[3] Exec. Order 13526 - Classified National Security Information, Nov. 14, 2009
Enrichment Data:The potential legal implications of US military officials discussing and sharing classified information about military strikes on Yemen using an encrypted messaging app like Signal are significant. Here are key concerns and legal frameworks involved:
- Legal Frameworks
- Espionage Act: This 1917 law makes it illegal to share information related to national defense without authorization, especially if done through gross negligence. Participants in such discussions could potentially face charges if the information shared qualifies as national defense information and was shared negligently[1][2].
- Executive Order 13526: This order governs the classification of national security information and requires strict adherence to protocols for handling classified data. Using unauthorized apps like Signal for classified information violates these protocols[2].
- Department of Defense Regulations: The DoD prohibits the use of unmanaged messaging apps for sharing non-public information, emphasizing the risk of security breaches and unauthorized access[1].
- Potential Legal Implications
- Criminal Charges: While prosecution might be unlikely due to political considerations, officials could theoretically face criminal charges under the Espionage Act if gross negligence is proven[1].
- Administrative Actions: Even without criminal charges, officials could face administrative actions, such as loss of security clearance, reprimand, or removal from their positions[2].
- National Security Risks: Discussing sensitive information on unsecured channels could compromise national security by exposing operational details to adversaries[3].
- Recommendations To mitigate these risks, military officials should only use authorized, secure communication channels for discussing classified information. This ensures both compliance with regulations and protection of national security[3].
In summary, while Signal is encrypted, using it for classified discussions violates DoD regulations and could lead to legal and administrative consequences. The primary concern remains the potential for gross negligence under the Espionage Act.
- It's plausible that the unauthorized discussion among top US officials, including Goldberg and others, about a military operation in Yemen on an encrypted app like Signal, might violate the Espionage Act, as it involves the mishandling of national defense information.
- In a likely scenario, if lower-level government officials made a similar mistake, they could face consequences such as loss of their security clearances or administrative actions, according to current and former officials.
- The potential risks associated with discussing sensitive information on unsecured channels like Signal can lead to national security breaches, exposing operational details to adversaries, as stated by experts like former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta.
