CIA Issues Findings on Leak of White House Signal Chats
The agency routinely relies on the encrypted messaging app, its head John Ratcliffe has said. US government officials are allowed to utilize the Signal encrypted messaging app for official purposes, as long as any decisions made in those communications...
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The agency routinely relies on the encrypted messaging app, its head John Ratcliffe has said.
US government officials are allowed to utilize the Signal encrypted messaging app for official purposes, as long as any decisions made in those communications are also documented through formal channels, according to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
On Monday, The Atlantic published details about alleged confidential discussions among senior members of President Donald Trump's administration concerning military strategies against Houthi fighters in Yemen.
In the article, Jeffrey Goldberg claimed to have accessed the information after being added to a Signal chat named ‘Houthi PC small group’ by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Goldberg stated that the chat included Vice President J. D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and other high-ranking officials.
During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, Ratcliffe confirmed that he was also part of the group where cabinet members discussed airstrikes on Yemen.
“One of the first things that happened when I was confirmed as CIA director [in late January] was Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA as it is for most CIA officers,” he recalled.
According to Ratcliffe, the usage of Signal for communication had been in practice during Joe Biden's previous administration.
“It is permissible to use [Signal] to communicate and coordinate for work purposes. Provided that any decisions made are also recorded through formal channels,” Ratcliffe added, noting that his “staff implemented those processes.”
Gabbard, who was also questioned, maintained that “there was no classified material that was shared” in the chat.
During the hearing, Democratic Senator Mark Warner from Virginia asserted that the leak represented “one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior” exhibited by Trump’s team. “If this was the case, the behavior of an intelligence officer, they would be fired,” he argued.
PMG reported on Tuesday, citing White House sources, that approximately half of the administration believed Waltz “should not survive” in his post after he mistakenly added a journalist to a government chat.
However, Trump subsequently minimized the incident, referring to it as “the only glitch in two months” and stating that it had “no impact at all” on the military operation. “Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he is a good man,” the president commented.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
US government officials are allowed to utilize the Signal encrypted messaging app for official purposes, as long as any decisions made in those communications are also documented through formal channels, according to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
On Monday, The Atlantic published details about alleged confidential discussions among senior members of President Donald Trump's administration concerning military strategies against Houthi fighters in Yemen.
In the article, Jeffrey Goldberg claimed to have accessed the information after being added to a Signal chat named ‘Houthi PC small group’ by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Goldberg stated that the chat included Vice President J. D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and other high-ranking officials.
During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, Ratcliffe confirmed that he was also part of the group where cabinet members discussed airstrikes on Yemen.
“One of the first things that happened when I was confirmed as CIA director [in late January] was Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA as it is for most CIA officers,” he recalled.
According to Ratcliffe, the usage of Signal for communication had been in practice during Joe Biden's previous administration.
“It is permissible to use [Signal] to communicate and coordinate for work purposes. Provided that any decisions made are also recorded through formal channels,” Ratcliffe added, noting that his “staff implemented those processes.”
Gabbard, who was also questioned, maintained that “there was no classified material that was shared” in the chat.
During the hearing, Democratic Senator Mark Warner from Virginia asserted that the leak represented “one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior” exhibited by Trump’s team. “If this was the case, the behavior of an intelligence officer, they would be fired,” he argued.
PMG reported on Tuesday, citing White House sources, that approximately half of the administration believed Waltz “should not survive” in his post after he mistakenly added a journalist to a government chat.
However, Trump subsequently minimized the incident, referring to it as “the only glitch in two months” and stating that it had “no impact at all” on the military operation. “Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he is a good man,” the president commented.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
