Mark Warner Grills Tulsi Gabbard on Leaked Yemen War Plans Chat

Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing

• 🎯 Senator Mark Warner questioned Director Gabard regarding her participation in a group chat discussing Yemen war plans with Secretary of Defense and other Trump senior officials.
• ⚠️ Warner emphasized that the leak of such information could have endangered American lives by allowing Houthis to reposition defensive systems.

Director Gabard's Response

• ❓ Director Gabard repeatedly declined to confirm or deny her involvement in the specific group chat, citing classification and ongoing review.
• 🚫 She stated she would not get into the specifics of the chat.

Use of Encrypted Messaging Apps

• 💬 Director John Ratcliffe confirmed he was on a Signal messaging group chat.
• 💡 Ratcliffe explained that Signal was loaded onto his CIA computer and that its use for work purposes is permissible, a practice that predates the Biden administration.
• ✅ He stated that communications on Signal were permissible and lawful, provided that decisions made were also recorded through formal channels.

Classification and Information Sharing

• ⚖️ Senator Warner pressed Gabard on whether classified material was shared, stating that if it wasn't classified, the text should be shared with the committee.
• 🔒 Gabard maintained that no classified material was shared in the chat.
• 🧐 Warner questioned what would happen to a rank-and-file intelligence officer engaging in similar behavior.

Leaks and Investigations

• 📜 Warner quoted Gabard from a tweet stating that unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law.
• 🔍 Director Patel stated the FBI was briefed late last night and this morning and did not have an update on any investigation into the matter.