Congressman Adam Smith on the latest Signal chat scandal out of the Pentagon

The Pentagon is roiling over yet another Signal group chat.

No, not that one with the Trump Administration national security team that accidentally included an editor at the Atlantic. This is… another Signal group chat scandal. 

The New York Times reports that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared operational details for a March 15th U.S. strike on the Houthis in Yemen with a group of 13 people. 

They allegedly included his personal lawyer, brother, and wife. 

This comes while Hegseth’s team is dealing with staffing turmoil: Three staffers were recently fired over allegations they leaked to the press. 

Another former senior staffer wrote in Politico that there is a “full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon.” 

GUEST: Adam Smith represents Washington’s 9th congressional district. It includes parts of Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Kent and Federal Way. He’s also the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.

RELATED LINKS: 

• Hegseth Said to Have Shared Attack Details in Second Signal Chat
• Pete Hegseth Faces Heat After New Signal Chat Emerges and Claim of Pentagon ‘Chaos’
• Former Top Pentagon Spokesperson Details ‘Month From Hell’ Inside the Agency

• The White House is looking to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary - NPR

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.