ICYMI: Rep. Cisneros Calls on Secretary Hegseth to Answer to House Armed Services Committee
Rep. Cisneros also demanded accountability from National Security Advisor Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Gabbard, and Secretary of State Rubio
Washington, DC – In case you missed it, Congressman Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-31) and his Democratic House Armed Services Committee (HASC) colleagues called on HASC Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) to bring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before the committee and answer questions from lawmakers about the leak of detailed military strike plans via group chat on a nonsecure commercial messaging app. The group chat was first reported by The Atlantic, whose editor-in-chief was added to the group, which also included the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the CIA Director, the Director of National Intelligence and a member of the National Security Council, among others.
“Discussing such sensitive, and potentially classified, information on a messaging application that is not approved for the transmission of classified information could have jeopardized the safety of servicemembers and compromised the military operation,” wrote the members. “Furthermore, the use of this messaging application may have violated federal laws regarding the proper handling of classified information and federal record keeping laws.”
As the committee of jurisdiction, HASC has the power to conduct oversight and review the activities of Defense Department officials and employees, holding them accountable to the law and the American people. The full letter can be found here.
Rep. Cisneros also joined 69 House Democrats in a letter to National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the incredible incompetence displayed by their use of Signal to communicate highly sensitive national security information. The full letter can be found here. Rep. Cisneros also joined his House Democratic veteran colleagues in a press conference demanding full accountability from the Trump Administration.
Rep. Cisneros is a Navy veteran and the former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. He currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee and its Intelligence and Special Operations and Military Personnel Subcommittees. He also serves as the Chair of the New Dem National Security Working Group.
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