Representative Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got into an angry debate on Thursday over whether Hegseth had disclosed sensitive information concerning American airstrikes against Houthi militants.
Moulton asked Hegseth to face “accountability” if it is proven that he revealed key operational time on an unclassified messaging app, the most direct line of inquiry that occurred throughout the week-long congressional hearings.
“Did Central Command provide you with the launch time for the F-18s to engage enemy territory and face anti-aircraft missiles on an unclassified Signal chat when you texted that information?” “Yes or no?” Moulton, a veteran of the Marine Corps, questioned.
Hegseth said that any message from the defense secretary is necessarily confidential, thus he chose not to provide an explicit response.
“As you know, having served yourself, any way that the secretary of defense communicates or provides information in and of itself is classified and not to be discussed,” said Hegseth.
Moulton maintained his demand for details by asking, “So, when it was sent to you, what was the classification marking of the launch time?” For the simple reason that labeling classified material is mandated by DoD standards. What level of secrecy was it?
Hegseth ducked to highlight the success of the endeavor.
“What’s not classified is that it was an incredibly successful mission against the Houthis,” according to him.
Well, then, it was classified, according to Moulton. “Are you trying to say that the information was unclassified?”
“I don’t intend to say anything,” Hegseth stated.
Then Moulton said that the secretary had received marked sensitive material from Central Command and had shared it over unsecure methods.
Additionally, he mentioned that a report about the subject is anticipated to be released “in a few days” by the Pentagon inspector general. “If the DoD inspector general finds what is pretty obvious… that the information was, in fact, classified, do you plan to take any accountability for that?” Moulton inquired.
There was no sensitive material, according to Hegseth, who said, “There were no names, targets, locations, units, routes, sources, methods.”
“Of course,” Hegseth responded when asked again if he would take responsibility in the event that the report reveals a violation. Just like everyone else, I am appointed to serve at the president’s pleasure.
Moulton changed the subject to raise doubts about how much the United States spent fighting the Houthis, referencing allegations that the operation cost more over $1 billion. “How many U.S.-flagged commercial ships have transited the Red Sea since your so-called successful operation?” said he. “The answer is zero.”
A Pentagon IG probe was initiated in April and is expected to look into whether Hegseth inappropriately discussed operational plans for a U.S. offensive against the Houthis in Yemen, as well as “compliance with classification and records retention requirements,” as stated in a memo from Inspector General Steven Stebbins.
The strike on the Houthis would involve F-18 and Navy fighter aircraft, MQ-9s, drones, and Tomahawks cruise missiles, according to Hegseth’s Signal messages to the president’s principal advisers, which were leaked when former national security advisor Mike Waltz accidentally added the Atlantic magazine’s Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat.
“1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package),” Hegseth said in one message, alerting the conversation of high-level administration officials that the attack was about to begin.
“1345: ‘Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME – also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)” according to the report, he said.
“1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)”
“1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier ‘Trigger Based’ targets)”
“1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts – also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched.”
“MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline)”
So far, “we are currently clean on OPSEC,” or operational security.
Long have members of the Trump administration maintained that the discussion did not include the disclosure of any secret information.
