Hegseth states that staffers caught leaking 'will be prosecuted' during turmoil at the Pentagon
The Defense secretary is under intensified scrutiny amid reports of chaos within the Pentagon.
TroibNews 
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that any staffers found leaking information from the Pentagon “will be prosecuted,” as he strives to address reports of internal turmoil within his department.
Hegseth's initiative to investigate leaks at the Department of Defense arises amid increased scrutiny regarding disorder under his leadership and is part of a wider government effort to combat leaks across various agencies.
“We're going to investigate and when we investigate, we'll take it anywhere it leads,” Hegseth said during a segment on “Fox and Friends” with Brian Kilmeade on Tuesday morning. He referred to “a series of serious leaks at the Pentagon” that have sparked a Defense Department investigation, including leaks concerning Panama Canal plans and Elon Musk’s attendance at a Pentagon briefing.
“When that evidence is gathered sufficiently — and this has all happened very quickly — it will be handed over to [the Justice Department], and those people will be prosecuted if necessary,” he added.
In recent days, the situation at the Pentagon has escalated, with three high-level officials removed in connection to the leak investigations expressing concerns that they “have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of ‘leaks’ to begin with.”
Hegseth has also faced criticism for sharing sensitive attack plans in a private Signal chat with family members and his personal lawyer, as reported by The New York Times. Last month, he was involved in a similar controversy after unintentionally including Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in an unsecured chat, leading to a scandal referred to as Signalgate.
His challenges continued when former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot wrote an opinion piece in PMG Magazine over the weekend, asserting that “the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership.” Ullyot resigned from the Pentagon last week.
On Tuesday, Hegseth seemed to challenge Ullyot's credibility, stating: “Anybody that knows John knows why we let him go.”
President Donald Trump has shown unwavering support for Hegseth, speaking privately with the Defense Secretary and telling reporters at Monday’s White House Easter egg roll, “Pete is doing a great job. Ask the Houthis how he’s doing.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Hegseth further, claiming on “Fox and Friends” that “the entire Pentagon is working against” their boss.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
Hegseth's initiative to investigate leaks at the Department of Defense arises amid increased scrutiny regarding disorder under his leadership and is part of a wider government effort to combat leaks across various agencies.
“We're going to investigate and when we investigate, we'll take it anywhere it leads,” Hegseth said during a segment on “Fox and Friends” with Brian Kilmeade on Tuesday morning. He referred to “a series of serious leaks at the Pentagon” that have sparked a Defense Department investigation, including leaks concerning Panama Canal plans and Elon Musk’s attendance at a Pentagon briefing.
“When that evidence is gathered sufficiently — and this has all happened very quickly — it will be handed over to [the Justice Department], and those people will be prosecuted if necessary,” he added.
In recent days, the situation at the Pentagon has escalated, with three high-level officials removed in connection to the leak investigations expressing concerns that they “have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of ‘leaks’ to begin with.”
Hegseth has also faced criticism for sharing sensitive attack plans in a private Signal chat with family members and his personal lawyer, as reported by The New York Times. Last month, he was involved in a similar controversy after unintentionally including Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in an unsecured chat, leading to a scandal referred to as Signalgate.
His challenges continued when former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot wrote an opinion piece in PMG Magazine over the weekend, asserting that “the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership.” Ullyot resigned from the Pentagon last week.
On Tuesday, Hegseth seemed to challenge Ullyot's credibility, stating: “Anybody that knows John knows why we let him go.”
President Donald Trump has shown unwavering support for Hegseth, speaking privately with the Defense Secretary and telling reporters at Monday’s White House Easter egg roll, “Pete is doing a great job. Ask the Houthis how he’s doing.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Hegseth further, claiming on “Fox and Friends” that “the entire Pentagon is working against” their boss.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
