On Wednesday, U.S. intelligence chiefs denied any legal violations or the disclosure of classified information in a group chat discussing airstrikes on Yemen, despite Democratic concerns over a potential security breach.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified before Congress, where Democrats criticized their use of the encrypted app Signal to discuss military operations in a chat that included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
The House Intelligence Committee hearing occurred shortly after The Atlantic published a transcript of the chat, revealing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had shared details about the airstrikes’ timing and weaponry. Democrats, including Representative Jim Himes, condemned the use of Signal for such discussions, warning that adversaries like Russia or China could have intercepted the messages, potentially endangering U.S. forces.
Gabbard defended the chat, stating it was a policy discussion and that Goldberg was added inadvertently.
She denied sharing classified details but admitted her previous testimony may have lacked accuracy due to her limited involvement in that part of the conversation.
Ratcliffe insisted that Signal was a secure platform for sensitive discussions and maintained that no classified information was transferred.
Democrats countered these claims by pointing to printed Signal messages showing explicit operational details. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi accused Hegseth of disclosing classified military plans and called for his resignation. Republicans pushed back, arguing that no classified data—such as specific targets—was revealed.
The controversy comes as Democrats seek to challenge the Trump administration, which has held control of both the Senate and House since the November election.
During a Senate hearing the day before, Republicans largely avoided discussing the issue, though some later suggested an internal investigation might be warranted.
Former President Trump dismissed the uproar as a “witch hunt” and criticized Signal as “defective.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Jamaica, attributed the incident to an accidental addition of a journalist to the chat.
