U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono and 15 Senate colleagues have called for hearings to investigate the alleged mishandling of classified military operations information by members of former President Trump's national security team. The senators are urging the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to examine the use of unsecured devices to discuss classified military plans.
The call for hearings, outlined in a letter led by Senator Jacky Rosen, comes after reports from The Atlantic highlighted the use of a commercial messaging application, Signal, by Trump administration officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, to discuss sensitive military operations. "This gross mishandling of highly classified information has weakened our national security and could have put at risk American lives," the senators wrote.
The letter, signed by Senators such as Tammy Duckworth, Chris Murphy, and Ron Wyden, criticizes the careless addition of a journalist to the chat and demands a thorough investigation to "prevent such recklessness in the future."
In response to the revelations, the senators aim to uncover why unclassified, internet-connected smartphones were used for discussing military operations. The letter specifies the need for transparency and accountability, urging further reporting and testimony from officials involved in the discussions, such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The call for Senate hearings highlights concerns about potential breaches of national security and risks to U.S. troops, emphasizing the need for detailed inquiries and protective measures moving forward.