CIA Director John Ratcliffe Responds to Questions About Pete Hegseth's Drinking Habits

Congressional Hearing on Classified Information Leak

• 🎯 A heated exchange occurred during a House Intelligence Committee hearing concerning a leaked encrypted Signal chat.
• 📌 The chat reportedly involved discussions about impending US airstrikes against Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

Questions Regarding Secretary Hegseth's Habits

• ❓ California Representative Jimmy Gomez questioned CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
• 💡 Gomez specifically asked if Hegseth had been drinking prior to the leak of classified information.
• 🗣️ Gomez stated that Americans are concerned about Hegseth's performance, referencing a public appearance where he was holding a drink.

Responses from Intelligence Directors

• 🚫 CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated he had no knowledge of Secretary Hegseth's personal habits.
• 🚫 Ratcliffe also responded with a definitive "no" when asked directly if Hegseth had been drinking.
• 😠 Ratcliffe found the line of questioning offensive and suggested focusing on the positive work of the CIA and intelligence community.
• 🗣️ He asserted his right to answer the question and pushed back against the focus on personal habits over operational successes.