WASHINGTON—Secretary of War Pete Hegseth used Signal to send sensitive, nonpublic operational information that he determined did not require classification surrounding U.S. strikes on Yemen, a Defense Department watchdog concluded.
The department’s Office of Inspector General noted in a report dated Dec. 2 and released on Dec. 4 that Hegseth makes the determination of what is or is not classified.
Hegseth took “non-specific general details” that he determined, as an original classification authority, were either not classified or that he could safely declassify and use to create an “unclassified summary” for the Signal chat participants, according to the report.
However, Hegseth did not comply with department protocol when using his personal cellphone to conduct official business, the report said….
Pentagon IG Releases Report on Hegseth’s Signal Use
