🔗 Share this article Pentagon Investigation Finds Hegseth Put Troops in Jeopardy with Messaging App Conversation. A highly anticipated Pentagon review has concluded that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth violated departmental policies by sharing secret information in a Signal messaging chat, according to a person briefed on the findings. Details of the Event The online conversation in question contained details about a planned air attack in Yemen targeting Houthi militants. This discussion came to light after a journalist for the Atlantic was added as a participant. Other individuals in the chat reportedly included Senator JD Vance, CIA director John Ratcliffe, and then-national security adviser Mike Waltz. The investigation focused solely on the actions of Hegseth, as the other participants do not work at the Department of Defense. Signal is a publicly available messaging app that was not approved for handling classified information. Serious Threat to Forces The inspector general's report found that the information circulated by Hegseth was classified and posed a risk to the safety of US service members if it had been intercepted by a hostile nation. However, the report also noted that Hegseth had the ability to downgrade the information he shared, though it was unclear whether he formally did so. Hegseth's Response The informed individual indicated that Hegseth declined an interview by the investigators. Instead, he provided a brief written statement. In his response, Hegseth asserted he only shared details that would not have risked lives or jeopardized the mission. He added that he had the right to downgrade information and viewed the inspector general to be politically motivated. Future Actions The finalized investigation has been provided to lawmakers. An unclassified version is expected to be released in the coming days.