Wyden Questions Gabbard and Ratcliffe on Signal Chat Use for Yemen Strike Plans

Concerns Over Unclassified Phone Use

• ⚠️ Senator Wyden expresses strong concerns about war planning meetings conducted over unclassified phones, deeming it reckless and dangerous.
• 🚨 He highlights the potential mishandling of classified information and deliberate destruction of federal records as crimes requiring immediate investigation.
• ⚖️ Wyden suggests that resignations, starting with the national security adviser and secretary of defense, are warranted.

Testimony on Signal Chat Participation

• ❓ Director Ratcliffe and Director Gabbard were asked if they participated in other group chats with senior Trump administration officials where classified information was shared on non-cleared phones.
• 🚫 Both Ratcliffe and Gabbard stated they have not participated in any Signal group chats or other app chats that contained classified information.
• ✅ They agreed to cooperate with an audit to confirm these statements.

Permissibility of Signal Encryption

• 🔒 Director Gabbard noted that the use of Signal messaging and end-to-end encrypted applications is permissible and, in her understanding, was used lawfully in this instance.

Broader National Security Chats

• 🗣️ Director Patel, who was not in the specific group chat in question, was asked about participating in other national security-related chats on unclassified phones with administration officials.
• 🤔 Patel responded that he could not recall participating in such chats.