The Pentagon‘s watchdog review found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “risked endangering troops” when he used Signal to share war plans, according to reports Wednesday.
The report is still classified and has not been publicly released. The inspector general for the Pentagon did conclude that Hegseth “risked compromising sensitive information,” according to an exclusive CNN report.
The inspector general has been investigating Hegseth’s use of Signal since April and has concluded he should not have used this to communicate specific war plans and the impact could have been “dire,” CNN reported.
Sources indicated that Hegseth noted specific information about the war plans in a Signal exchange: “This is the exact time the bomb will drop.”
Hegseth apparently resisted to sit down for an interview with the inspector, only answering questions in writing.
The plans, which were accidentally leaked in March to Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg by the former Fox News host and current Pentagon leader, became embroiled in a controversy known as “Signalgate” involving private messaging and potentially inappropriate communications, according to an exclusive CNN report.
“The Defense Secretary risked compromising sensitive military information which could have endangered military troops and mission objectives when he used Signal in March of this year,” sources told CNN.
The Signalgate scandal centered around allegations of inappropriate use of encrypted messaging platforms and potential misuse of communication channels during sensitive political periods. Specific details remain under an ongoing investigation.
“The biggest concern about this was that they were putting their lives in danger by communicating and the idea that the Secretary of Defense wouldn’t understand that communicating in this way could actually harm our troops on the ground,” said Kristen Holmes, CNN senior White House correspondent.
“I think this is going to again, lead to this whole narrative as to whether or not Hegseth stays as the head of the Secretary of Defense,” Holmes said.
The inspector general’s office was investigating the incident — President Donald Trump had reportedly fired the previous one — and the agency has conducted the probe, CNN reported.
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