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Sen. Tammy Duckworth Calls for Resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Senator Tammy Duckworth, representing Illinois, has made headlines by demanding the resignation of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. This controversy stems from allegations that Hegseth shared classified military information and war plans via an unsecured group text message.
Duckworth, a combat veteran who served as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot and is currently active on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, claims that Hegseth jeopardized the safety of American service members by revealing sensitive details concerning U.S. military operations against the Houthis in Yemen during early March.
In her statement, Duckworth expressed her strong disapproval, stating, “Pete Hegseth is a f‑‑‑ing liar. This is so clearly classified info he recklessly leaked that could’ve gotten our pilots killed. He needs to resign in disgrace immediately.”
Furthermore, Duckworth emphasized the need for accountability, calling for an independent investigation into Hegseth and other officials included in the group chat. She indicated that any reluctance from Republican members to pursue this accountability would render them complicit in what she characterized as a serious breach of national security.
In response, Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he did not mishandle classified information while using the commercial messaging app Signal to communicate. This claim gained attention after text messages involving him were shared by Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, who was mistakenly added to the group communication.
As this situation unfolds, former President Trump has thus far refrained from dismissing any individuals linked to these allegations. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has accepted responsibility for including Goldberg in the conversation, which also featured prominent figures such as Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, among others.
In an interesting development, some Republicans have joined the Democrats in voicing their concerns over the matter. Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska remarked that the White House appears “in denial” about the classified nature of the shared information. Additionally, Senator Roger Wicker from Mississippi, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, has indicated that there will be an investigation into the situation.
Source
thehill.com