[By Guancha Observer Network, Zhang Jingjuan] The "group chat leak" controversy involving Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, continues to escalate.

On May 5, The Wall Street Journal cited informed sources as reporting that Hegseth's use of the commercial chat software Signal to handle Pentagon affairs is far more extensive than previously disclosed. He personally established many chat groups, and some information was even posted on his behalf by his military aide, Colonel Ricky Buria of the Marine Corps, including operational plans previously shared with family members.

Informed sources said that the Secretary of Defense used Signal to participate in at least a dozen different chat groups. On one occasion, he instructed his assistant through this software to inform a foreign government about an ongoing military operation.

The two informed sources said that Hegseth also used this non-governmental communication application to discuss media involvement, overseas visits, schedules, and other non-classified but sensitive information.

These two people said that the former Fox News host personally created multiple group chats, sending messages through a non-secure line in his Pentagon office and his personal mobile phone.

The above sources revealed that some of Hegseth's chat messages were posted by his aide Buria, who had the authority to use the latter's private mobile phone.

Previously, media reports disclosed that Hegseth once shared details about the March U.S. airstrike targeting Houthi armed forces in Yemen in a Signal group chat that included his wife, brother, private lawyer, and others. An informed source pointed out that the information shared by Hegseth included the flight schedule of F/A-18 Hornets targeting Houthi armed forces in Yemen.

It was reported that informed sources stated that it was Buria who sent the relevant information to the aforementioned group chat.

Regarding Hegseth's frequent use of Signal for daily work and the practice of having assistants post messages, neither the Pentagon nor Buria responded to requests for comment.

Aide to US Secretary of Defense Hegseth - US Marine Corps

Last month, Steven Stebbins, Acting Inspector General of the Department of Defense, announced that in response to requests from two key members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (one Republican and one Democrat), an internal investigation would be conducted into Hegseth's role in the "group chat incident."

On May 2, according to a congressional aide and another informed person, Stebbins has expanded the scope of the investigation into Hegseth sharing military plans to include the investigation of chat groups involving his wife and brother.

Reports indicated that the information Hegseth released in other groups included his views on personnel issues, Pentagon projects facing cuts, and details of government discussions regarding national security issues.

The two informed sources said that among all the information sent by the Secretary of Defense, the most sensitive information involved authorizing assistants to inform allies about related military operations.

Informed sources said that Hegseth preferred to handle daily affairs of the Department of Defense through Signal rather than using the Pentagon's communication network.

The personnel he added to the group chat included members of the security team, staff from his personal office and deputy minister's office, as well as public relations assistants. To view group messages, they usually needed to leave their desks and search for mobile signal coverage areas within the Pentagon. Reports indicated that mobile phone signal coverage inside the Pentagon building is unstable.

Experts noted that previous administrations have also used unofficial communication applications, but sharing highly protected information via Signal may increase the risk of sensitive information leaks.

Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior intelligence official, said that using personal phones and commercial applications brings unnecessary risks. There is a reason why the government considers Signal a non-confidential application. "Obviously, the U.S. government system struggles to keep up with the pace required by business."

According to informed sources, some of Hegseth's information disappeared without being recorded, which may violate legal requirements for preserving official records.

Hegseth - Video Screenshot

The Wall Street Journal pointed out that the Pentagon issued a directive in 2023, imposing restrictions on the use of non-governmental applications such as Signal to handle official business. The directive stated that these communication service applications should not be used to handle sensitive but non-classified information.

According to the memo from the Chief Information Officer of the Pentagon, "Department of Defense personnel shall not use non-Department of Defense accounts, personal email, instant messaging systems, or other non-public Department of Defense information systems to handle official business except for approved or authorized government contractor systems."

It was reported that it is unclear whether Signal has been approved for use by Pentagon officials since the issuance of this memo.

Aram Gavoor, Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of National Security Law at George Washington University Law School, believed that this memo cannot ultimately determine whether Hegseth's use of Signal on private devices to transmit non-public, non-classified Department of Defense information is legal.

Despite being embroiled in controversy, former President Trump still strongly supported Hegseth.

On May 4, Trump stated on NBC's "Meet the Press" program that Hegseth's position was "absolutely secure," and he was not looking for a new Secretary of Defense. Trump reiterated that Hegseth was doing an excellent job.

This article is an exclusive contribution from Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7501224903476036107/

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