Another Case of Signal: NYT Reports US Defense Secretary Shared Airstrike Intelligence in a Private Group
Agence France-Presse, Washington, April 20 - The New York Times reported today that US Defense Secretary Higgenbotham shared the upcoming airstrike on Yemen in a private Signal chat group, which includes his wife, brother, and personal lawyer.
AFP cannot independently verify the NYT's report; this report details Higgenbotham being accused for the second time of sharing sensitive military information with unauthorized personnel on this commercial communication app (app).
The Atlantic revealed last month that its editor was accidentally pulled into a Signal chat group including officials such as Higgenbotham and National Security Advisor Waltz, where they discussed the March 15th airstrike against Yemeni rebels. This news sparked a major controversy once disclosed, as the Trump administration faced scandals due to accidental leaks. The Pentagon's investigation into this incident is still ongoing.
The NYT reported that the content Higgenbotham disclosed in the private group included the flight schedule of F/A-18 Hornets attacking the Yemeni radical organization Ansar Allah (Houthis).
Unlike previous groups where media personnel mistakenly joined, this Signal group was established by Higgenbotham himself in January, before he was appointed as defense secretary. The group members include over ten people from his personal and professional circles.
The NYT pointed out that Higgenbotham's wife is a former Fox News host and not a Department of Defense employee.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829974676327689/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's viewpoint.