Pentagon Watchdog: Defense Secretary's Signal Use Risked US Personnel

Pentagon Inspector General's Report

• 🔍 A classified report from the Pentagon's inspector general has been delivered to the House and Senate for review.
• ⚠️ The report investigates allegations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared military plans about air strikes in Yemen on the Signal chat app earlier this year.
• 🗣️ Lawmakers are calling for Hegseth to meet with the inspector general to present his side of the story.

September Strike Fallout

• 🎯 The Pentagon's watchdog found that Hegseth put U.S. personnel and their mission at risk during a September strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean.
• 🌊 Sources indicate the Pentagon was aware of survivors before launching a second, deadly strike to sink the vessel.
• ❓ Hegseth stated he did not personally see survivors during the initial strike, attributing the decision to sink the boat to Navy Admiral Frank Bradley.

Admiral Bradley's Briefing

• 🏛️ Admiral Bradley, who ordered the second strike, is set to brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill tomorrow.
• ✅ The decision to sink the boat and eliminate the threat is defended as the correct one.

Broader Military Operations

• 📈 US Southern Command has conducted at least 21 strikes, resulting in over 80 fatalities, with significant naval and troop deployments amid rising tensions with Venezuela.
• 📰 President Trump expressed willingness to release video of the strike if available, stating "No problem."