Republican Senator Thom Tillis has publicly disputed claims made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding a Pentagon investigation into an incident referred to as Signalgate. Hegseth asserted that the review by the Pentagon’s Inspector General provided a complete “exoneration” of his actions. However, Tillis countered that such a characterization is misleading, stating, “No one can rationalize that as an exoneration.”
In an interview with CNN, Tillis emphasized the importance of learning from the incident rather than dismissing it. He noted, “At some point, just take the learning experience and move on.” The senator expressed serious concerns about the implications of Hegseth’s actions, highlighting that sensitive mission information was disclosed outside of classified channels.
Details of the Signalgate Incident
The investigation in question determined that Hegseth had shared sensitive operational information regarding U.S. airstrikes in Yemen through the encrypted messaging app Signal. Reports indicate that messages sent from Hegseth’s Signal account in March 2023 included specific timelines for airstrikes, with one message stating, “this is when the first bombs will drop.” These communications involved a group chat that included senior officials from the Trump administration.
The situation escalated when National Security Adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic to the conversation. According to the Inspector General’s report, while Hegseth possessed the authority to declassify information, there was no documented evidence indicating he had done so prior to sharing sensitive details from a document marked Secret/NOFORN, which restricts information sharing with foreign nationals.
Tillis underscored the severity of the situation by stating, “Why would you send the signal that maybe this is okay? Maybe you could be exonerated by leaking information before a critical mission.” He stressed the need for improved training for senior Defense Department officials on handling sensitive information.
Reactions and Implications
Hegseth opted not to participate in interviews with investigators, instead providing written responses. He maintains that his classification authority and operational judgment justified his actions and that using Signal did not violate the Federal Records Act’s preservation rules. Following the release of the Inspector General’s report, he responded to a social media post by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who had characterized the review as a “TOTAL exoneration” of Hegseth. In his response, Hegseth reiterated, “No classified information. Total exoneration. Case closed.”
The ongoing debate surrounding the findings of the Pentagon investigation raises critical questions about accountability and the handling of classified information within the U.S. government. As the discourse continues, both Hegseth and Tillis remain at the forefront of discussions regarding the implications of the Signalgate incident.
