WASHINGTON, D.C. – Some congressional members are calling on the White House to fire top security leaders after their handling of sensitive information in a group chat. Republicans and Democrats are also calling for an investigation into the so-called “Signalgate” scandal.
“The administration put in that Signal chain both the time of the attack but also the method,” said Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D- MI). “It’s important to understand how this happened to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Earlier this week, the Atlantic editor-in-chief reported he was added to a group chat with top security leaders on the app Signal. He said in their discussion, they detailed sensitive information on an upcoming attack on Houthi rebels. The national security advisor Mike Waltz eventually claimed responsibility for adding the journalist to the group text.
“I definitely support an IG investigation on how all of these high-ranking members used a platform that is not appropriate for what they were discussing,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R- ME).
“This was a great lesson to be learned,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R- PA). “I don’t believe it was intentional but I believe the fact that it could happen if you’re not careful.”
We asked Rep. Kelly what accountability measures should take place.
“If it was a mistake, it was a mistake; I think the other side will jump on that and say you don’t know what you’re doing, you shouldn’t be in that office,” said Rep. Kelly. “I think we need to be careful about that. I’m not diminishing the importance of the call or the fact that it was as private as they thought it was going to be, I get that. But at the same token, people make mistakes.”
Some see it as a double standard.
“If any soldier, any marine, any CIA agent had put this on an unclassified text chain, we’d be removed from our job immediately,” said Sen. Slotkin. “We’d be put on admin leave and our case right after being fired would probably get moved to the Department of Justice.”
The White House has not ruled out firings and the President seems to stick by those who were part of that group chat.
